1 [+ obj] : to allow (someone) to leave a hospital, prison, etc.
▪ She's due to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday. ▪ Discharge the prisoners. 2 [+ obj] a : to take away the job of (someone) : to end the employment of (someone)
▪ The company illegally discharged [=fired] several union organizers. ▪ We had to discharge several employees last week.
b : to end the service of (someone) in a formal or official way
▪ Thousands of soldiers were discharged after the war. : to release (someone) from duty ▪ The judge discharged the jury. 3 : to shoot or fire (a weapon) [+ obj] ▪ The ship discharged missiles against enemy targets. ▪ discharging a firearm [no obj] ▪ The gun failed to discharge. 4 [+ obj] : to allow (someone) to get out of a vehicle
▪ The bus had stopped to discharge [=let off] passengers. 5 a : to send out (a liquid, gas, or waste material) [+ obj] ▪ Smokestacks from the factory discharge [=emit] chemicals into the air. ▪ discharging pollution into a lake ▪ The wound began to discharge pus. [no obj] ▪ a river that discharges [=flows] into the ocean
b : to send out (electricity) [+ obj] ▪ discharge electricity from a battery [no obj] ▪ allowing the electricity to discharge safely 6 [+ obj] formal a : to do what is required by (something)
▪ He vowed to faithfully discharge [=fulfill] the duties/responsibilities of his office. ▪ discharging an obligation
b : to pay (a debt)
▪ They have failed to discharge their debts.