Meaning of release In English

• 0 to give freedom or free movement to someone or something:

  • He was released from prison after serving two years of a five-year sentence.

  • She was arrested for shoplifting but was released on bail (= after paying a sum of money to the court).

  • figurative The surgery released him from years of pain.

  • He released the handbrake and the car jumped forwards.

  • The plane released its bombs at 10,000 feet.

  • Coal power stations release sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere.

  • Hormones are released from glands into the bloodstream.

  • He punched the pillow in an effort to release his anger.

• 1 to allow something to be shown in public or to be available for use:

  • Police have released a picture of the man they want to question.

  • The mayor has released a statement explaining the reasons for his resignation.

  • The band's latest album will be released next week.

  • The new edition of the dictionary will be released by the education minister later this month.

• 2 an occasion when someone is allowed to leave prison, etc.:

  • Her early release from prison led to a demonstration.

  • The accident caused the release of radioactivity into the atmosphere.

  • I noticed a release of tension when he left the room.

  • After years of suffering, his death came as a merciful release.

• 3 the act of making something public or available for use:

  • There are strict rules on the release of official information.

  • The company issued a press release announcing the appointment of a new CEO.

  • Her latest release, a song about doomed love, she wrote herself.

  • The latest Disney film goes on general release next month.

• 4 to give freedom to someone:

  • Agents questioned the men, then released them because they had done nothing wrong.

  • She released the brake and the car rolled forward.

• 5 to drop, or to stop carrying, holding, or containing something:

  • The dog brought the ball back to us but wouldn’t release it.

  • The company was charged with releasing toxic gases into the atmosphere.

• 6 to let something be shown in public or made available for use:

  • The police released a drawing of the suspect.

• 7 the act of giving freedom to someone:

  • Diplomatic efforts were underway to secure the release of the two journalists.

• 8 the act of letting something be shown in public or be made available for use:

  • The release of the movie was delayed for several months.

• 9 to make information available to the public:

  • According to a study released last week, nearly 250,000 Britons emigrated last year.

  • release a statement/document/report The conservation group released a report accusing petroleum companies of causing widespread pollution.

  • release details/figures/findings Figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders show that fixed-rate products accounted for 78% of mortgages in August.

  • Copies of the correspondence between the attorneys have now been released to the media.

• 10 to start to sell a new product:

  • Only a very small percentage of the software games released each year actually make money.

  • release a CD/DVD/movie The record company has just released a CD that brings together the artist's solo and collaborative work.

• 11 to make money available to be spent:

  • A spokesman for the transport group said new debt arrangements would release €500 million.

  • Selling their home to release the equity is some people's only way of funding their living expenses in old age.

• 12 to produce gases or chemical substances as part of a manufacturing or industrial process:

  • Many industrial processes are still releasing great quantities of carbon dioxide.

• 13 to officially say that someone no longer has a job, position, or responsibility:

  • release sb from sth The club has agreed to release three of its players from contract.

• 14 the act of making a new product available to buy or a new film available to see:

  • The album sold more than 200,000 copies in the week following its June 12 release.

  • The movie's release date has been pushed back six weeks.

  • Sales peak when retailers time their promotion campaigns with the release of a box-office hit like Star Wars.

  • Throughout the country, people have been queuing outside stores as they anticipate the commercial release of the new phone.

  • after/on/since release Customers purchasing new computers have been offered a free upgrade to the latest operating system on its release.

  • be/go on release A Blu-Ray version of the movie is now on general release.

• 15 a new product that is made available to buy, especially a CD, DVD, or a piece of software:

  • new/recent/latest release Three of the major Hollywood film studios agreed to sell their older movies - but not new releases - through iTunes™.

• 16 the act of making information available to the public:

  • The report's release resulted in share prices dropping dramatically.

  • A temporary order was granted by the judge preventing the release of about 900 pages of e-mails.

  • the release of information/reports/figures The rand lost ground again after the release of worse-than-expected gold and foreign exchange figures.

• 17 an official statement or document that is made available to the public:

  • The city's GDP, down 5% to $48.86 billion, reflected the blow struck by the earthquake, the bureau said in a release.

  • a news/press release

  • issue/put out a release We will not be issuing a release on any tax increases until work on the state budget for the next fiscal year is complete.

• 18 a process in which gases or chemical substances are produced as part of manufacturing or industrial processes:

  • The company said its level of air emissions would stay about the same under the new permit, although it did acknowledge that the permit would allow larger releases.

  • Any breach of safety regulations and resulting damage within a reactor could lead to a release of radiation.

• 19 the act of making money available to be spent:

  • release of sth Stock market indexes have recorded a steady growth in anticipation of early release of funds by the international donor agencies.

• 20 the act of making something available to be used:

  • release of sth Crude oil prices edged up to $29.66 amid disappointment that Europe has postponed any release of oil from its strategic reserves.