release

verb, noun verb [VN] set sb / sth free 1 ~ sb/sth (from sth) to let sb/sth come out of a place where they have been kept or trapped: to release a prisoner / hostage * Firefighters took two hours to release the driver from the wreckage. * (figurative) Death released him from his suffering. stop holding sth 2 to stop holding sth or stop it from being held so that it can move, fly, fall, etc. freely: He refused to release her arm. * 10000 balloons were released at the ceremony. * Intense heat is released in the reaction. feelings 3 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 ~ sb (from sth) to free sb from a duty, responsibility, contract, etc: The club is releasing some of its older players. * The new law released employers from their obligation to recognize unions. part of machine 5 to remove sth from a fixed position, allowing sth else to move or function: to release the clutch / handbrake / switch make less tight 6 to make sth less tight: You need to release the tension in these shoulder muscles. make available 7 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 to make sth available that had previously been restricted: The new building programme will go ahead as soon as the government releases the funds.

setting sb / sth free 1 [U,sing.] ~ (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 [U,sing.] 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 [C] a thing that is made available to the public, especially a new CD or film/movie: the latest new releases of gas / chemical 4 [U,C] 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 [U,sing.] 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. seealsoPRESSRELEASE