📒 to give somebody official permission to leave the police or the armed forces; to make somebody leave the police or the armed forces
- be discharged from something He was discharged from the army following his injury.
- She was discharged from the police force for bad conduct.
- He was found guilty and dishonourably discharged from the army.
📒 to allow somebody to leave hospital because they are well enough to leave
- be discharged (from something) Patients were being discharged from the hospital too early.
- All the people involved in the accident have now been discharged from hospital.
- discharge somebody/yourself (from something) She had discharged herself against medical advice.
📒 to allow somebody to leave prison or court
- be discharged He was conditionally discharged after admitting the theft.
- She was formally discharged by the court.
📒 to allow a member of a jury to stop serving in a court case
- If the jury cannot agree, it should be discharged.
- The judge took the unusual step of discharging the entire jury halfway through the trial.
📒 when a gas or a liquid discharges or is discharged, or somebody discharges it, it flows somewhere
- discharge (into something) The river is diverted through the power station before discharging into the sea.
- discharge something (from something) (into something) The factory was fined for discharging chemicals into the river.
- Raw sewage was discharged from the treatment plant directly into the river.
📒 if part of the body discharges something, a liquid such as pus comes out of it
- The wound started discharging pus.
📒 to release force or power
- Lightning is caused by clouds discharging electricity.
📒 to do everything that is necessary to perform and complete a particular duty
- to discharge your duties/responsibilities/obligations
- to discharge a debt (= to pay it)
- I will faithfully discharge my duties.
📒 to fire a gun, etc.; (of a gun, etc.) to be fired
- The police officer accidentally discharged a firearm while unloading it.
- They gave a cheer and charged, discharging a volley of arrows as they came.
- He knocked her hand down and the gun discharged into the floor.