release

release

re·leaseAW[releasereleasesreleasedreleasing]verb,noun [rɪˈliːs] [rɪˈliːs]

 

verb 

 

SET SB/STH FREE

 

1. to let sb/sth come out of a place where they have been kept or trapped

• ~ sb/sth to release a prisoner/hostage

• ~ sb/sth from sth Firefighters took two hours to release the driver from the wreckage.

• (figurative) Death released him from his suffering.  

 

STOP HOLDING STH

 

2. ~ sth to stop holding sth or stop it from being held so that it can move, fly, fall, etc. freely

Syn:  let go, Syn: let loose

• He refused to release her arm.

• 10 000 balloons were released at the ceremony.

• Intense heat is released in the reaction.  

 

FEELINGS

 

3. ~ sth to express feelings such as anger or worry in order to get rid of them

• She burst into tears, releasing all her pent-up emotions.  

 

FREE SB FROM DUTY

 

4. to free sb from a duty, responsibility, contract, etc

• ~ sb The club is releasing some of its older players.

• ~ sb from sth The new law released employers from their obligation to recognize unions.  

 

PART OF MACHINE

 

5. ~ sth to remove sth from a fixed position, allowing sth else to move or function

• to release the clutch/handbrake/switch, etc.  

 

MAKE LESS TIGHT

 

6. ~ sth to make sth less tight

• You need to release the tension in these shoulder muscles.  

 

MAKE AVAILABLE

 

7. ~ sth to make sth available to the public

• Police have released no further details about the accident.

• to release a movie/book/CD

• new products released onto the market

8. ~ sth to make sth available that had previously been restricted

• The new building programme will go ahead as soon as the government releases the funds.

 

Word Origin:

Middle English: from Old French reles (noun), relesser (verb), from Latin relaxare ‘stretch out again, slacken’, from re- (expressing intensive force) + laxus ‘lax, loose’.

 

Thesaurus:

release verb

1. T

• The kidnappers have agreed to release the hostages by 12 noon.

free • • set sb/sth free • • let sb go • • liberate • • ransom • • let sb/sth loose • |formal emancipate •

Opp: imprison

release/free/set free/liberate/emancipate sb from sth

release/free/set free/let go/liberate/ransom a prisoner/hostage

release/free an animal/a bird into the wild

Release, free or set sb/sth free? Free emphasizes the decision to let sb go; release emphasizes the physical act of letting sb go. Set sb/sth free is often used when sb/sth is freed by force, not authority

• Rioters stormed the prison and set all the prisoners free.

2. T

• Firefighters took two hours to release the driver from the wreckage.

• He refused to release her arm.

free • • let (sb/sth) go • • cut • • disentangle • |formal disengage •

release/free/cut/disentangle/disengage sb/sth from sth

release/free/disentangle/disengage yourself from sth

release/free/let go of/disentangle/disengage your/sb's arm/hand

3. T

• Police have released no further details about the accident.

issue • • publish • • print • • publicize • • circulate •

release/issue/publish/print/circulate a report/details

release/issue/publish/print a document/statement/description

release/issue/publish a new title/edition

 

Example Bank:

• Details of the attack have not yet been released to the public.

• Figures to be officially released this week reveal that long-term unemployment is still rising.

• He was released on his own recognizance and could face up to four years in jail.

• He's planning to release a solo album.

• How much radiation was released into the air?

• Police have refused to release the name of the dead man.

• She laughed, the tension inside her suddenly released.

• She was released from prison last week.

• The album has not been released on CD.

• The album was originally released in 1974.

• The book has not yet been released in paperback.

• The committee is expected to release its findings this summer.

• The compound slowly releases iron into the bloodstream.

• The dam suddenly released millions of gallons of water.

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.

• The film was never released theatrically in the US.

• The hostages were released unharmed.

• The new version is expected to be released shortly.

• newly released recordings

• the gases that are released from aerosols

• He was released without charge after questioning by police.

• It's been three years since he was released from prison.

• Now release the clutch and move away from the kerb.

• Several people charged with minor crimes were released without trial.

• She was released immediately when the soldiers realized their mistake.

• She was released on bail by the New York police.

• The birds were cleaned and fed and released again into the wild.

• The government is insisting that the men are released unconditionally.

• The kidnappers have agreed to release the hostages by 12 noon.

• The organization has released a report drawing attention to the appalling conditions.

• There have been a lot of new products released onto the market.

• They were interrogated before being released.

• When was the film first released?

• to release a catch/a screw/a nut/the clutch/the brakes

 

noun 

 

SETTING SB/STH FREE

 

1. uncountable, singular ~ (of sb) (from sth) the act of setting a person or an animal free; the state of being set free

• The government has been working to secure the release of the hostages.

• She can expect an early release from prison.  

 

MAKING STH AVAILABLE

 

2. uncountable, singular the act of making sth available to the public

• The new software is planned for release in April.

• The movie goes on general release (= will be widely shown in cinemas/movie theaters) next week.

3. countable a thing that is made available to the public, especially a new CD or film/movie

• the latest new releases  

 

OF GAS/CHEMICAL

 

4. uncountable, countable the act of letting a gas, chemical, etc. come out of the container where it has been safely held

• the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

• to monitor radiation releases  

 

FROM UNPLEASANT FEELING

 

5. uncountable, singular the feeling that you are free from pain, anxiety or some other unpleasant feeling

• a sense of release after the exam

• I think her death was a merciful release.

• It's just a release of tension.

see also  press release 

 

Word Origin:

Middle English: from Old French reles (noun), relesser (verb), from Latin relaxare ‘stretch out again, slacken’, from re- (expressing intensive force) + laxus ‘lax, loose’.

 

Example Bank:

• All societies have social mechanisms for the release of tension.

• Crying gave some emotional release.

• He has announced the release of his new album.

• He negotiated the release of American prisoners of war.

• He was granted early release.

• I am anxiously awaiting the release of the next volume.

• I've been eagerly awaiting this film's release on DVD.

• Laughter is an important release valve for feelings of frustration.

• On completing his prison sentence Smith will serve three years of supervised release.

• She saw death as a welcome release from pain.

• Sometimes we just need some release from the pressure.

• The controversy threatens to delay the movie's release.

• The film never got a theatrical release but went straight to video.

• The film will go on general release in November.

• The judge authorized the release of the information.

• The movie is already in/on general release.

• The new CD releases will be out on Friday.

• The outraged public demanded her release.

• The senator demanded the immediate release of the full report.

• There have been calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

• Under the current release schedule, the series will be available on DVD early next year.

• a publicity tour for the upcoming release of her autobiography

• his release from hospital

• The movie goes on general release next week.