6  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Release  \Re*lease"\,  n. 
  1.  (Mach.)  A  device  adapted  to  hold  or  release  a  device  or 
  mechanism  as  required;  specif.:  (Elec.)  A  catch  on  a 
  motor-starting  rheostat,  which  automatically  releases  the 
  rheostat  arm  and  so  stops  the  motor  in  case  of  a  break  in 
  the  field  circuit;  also  the  catch  on  an  electromagnetic 
  circuit  breaker  for  a  motor,  which  acts  in  case  of  an 
  overload. 
 
  2.  (Phon.)  The  act  or  manner  of  ending  a  sound. 
 
  3.  (Railroads)  In  the  block-signaling  system,  a  printed  card 
  conveying  information  and  instructions  to  be  used  at 
  intermediate  sidings  without  telegraphic  stations. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Release  \Re*lease"\  (r?-l?s"),  v.  t.  [Pref.  re  +  lease  to  let.] 
  To  lease  again  to  grant  a  new  lease  of  to  let  back 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Release  \Re*lease"\  (r?-l?s"),  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Released} 
  (r?*l?st");  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Releasing}.]  [OE.  relessen,  OF 
  relassier  to  release,  to  let  free  See  {Relay},  n.,  {Relax}, 
  and  cf  {Release}  to  lease  again.] 
  1.  To  let  loose  again  to  set  free  from  restraint, 
  confinement,  or  servitude;  to  give  liberty  to  or  to  set 
  at  liberty;  to  let  go 
 
  Now  at  that  feast  he  released  unto  them  one 
  prisoner,  whomsoever  they  desired.  --Mark  xv  6. 
 
  2.  To  relieve  from  something  that  confines,  burdens,  or 
  oppresses,  as  from  pain,  trouble,  obligation,  penalty. 
 
  3.  (Law)  To  let  go  as  a  legal  claim;  to  discharge  or 
  relinquish  a  right  to  as  lands  or  tenements,  by  conveying 
  to  another  who  has  some  right  or  estate  in  possession,  as 
  when  the  person  in  remainder  releases  his  right  to  the 
  tenant  in  possession;  to  quit 
 
  4.  To  loosen;  to  relax;  to  remove  the  obligation  of  as  to 
  release  an  ordinance.  [Obs.]  --Hooker. 
 
  A  sacred  vow  that  none  should  aye  release. 
  --Spenser. 
 
  Syn:  To  free  liberate;  loose;  discharge;  disengage; 
  extricate;  let  go  quit  acquit. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Release  \Re*lease"\,  n. 
  1.  The  act  of  letting  loose  or  freeing,  or  the  state  of  being 
  let  loose  or  freed;  liberation  or  discharge  from  restraint 
  of  any  kind  as  from  confinement  or  bondage.  ``Who 
  boast'st  release  from  hell.''  --Milton. 
 
  2.  Relief  from  care  pain,  or  any  burden. 
 
  3.  Discharge  from  obligation  or  responsibility,  as  from  debt, 
  penalty,  or  claim  of  any  kind  acquittance. 
 
  4.  (Law)  A  giving  up  or  relinquishment  of  some  right  or 
  claim;  a  conveyance  of  a  man's  right  in  lands  or  tenements 
  to  another  who  has  some  estate  in  possession;  a  quitclaim. 
  --Blackstone. 
 
  5.  (Steam  Engine)  The  act  of  opening  the  exhaust  port  to 
  allow  the  steam  to  escape. 
 
  {Lease  and  release}.  (Law)  See  under  {Lease}. 
 
  {Out  of  release},  without  cessation.  [Obs.]  --Chaucer. 
 
  Syn:  Liberation;  freedom;  discharge.  See  {Death}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  release 
  n  1:  something  issued  for  sale  or  public  showing  (especially  a 
  record  or  film);  "a  new  release  from  the  London  Symphony 
  Orchestra" 
  2:  the  act  of  liberating  someone  or  something  [syn:  {liberation}] 
  3:  a  process  that  liberates  or  discharges  something  "there  was 
  a  sudden  release  of  oxygen";  "the  release  of  iodine  from 
  the  thyroid  gland" 
  4:  an  announcement  distributed  to  members  of  the  press  in  order 
  to  supplement  or  replace  an  oral  presentation  [syn:  {handout}, 
  {press  release}] 
  5:  the  act  of  terminating  someone's  employment  [syn:  {dismissal}, 
  {discharge},  {firing},  {liberation},  {sack},  {sacking}] 
  6:  euphemistic  expressions  for  death;  "thousands  mourned  his 
  passing"  [syn:  {passing},  {loss},  {departure},  {exit},  {expiration}, 
  {going}] 
  7:  a  legal  document  evidencing  the  discharge  of  a  debt  or 
  obligation  [syn:  {acquittance}] 
  8:  activity  that  releases  or  expresses  creative  energy  or 
  emotion;  "she  had  no  other  outlet  for  her  feelings"  [syn: 
  {outlet}] 
  9:  the  act  of  allowing  a  fluid  to  escape  [syn:  {spill},  {spillage}] 
  10:  a  formal  written  statement  of  relinquishment  [syn:  {waiver}, 
  {discharge}] 
  11:  (music)  the  act  or  manner  of  terminating  a  musical  phrase  or 
  tone  [syn:  {tone  ending}] 
  v  1:  release,  as  from  one's  hands;  "Let  go  of  the  door  handle, 
  please!"  [syn:  {let  go  of},  {let  go}]  [ant:  {hold}] 
  2:  grant  freedom  to  free  from  confinement  [syn:  {free},  {liberate}, 
  {unloose},  {loose}]  [ant:  {confine}] 
  3:  release  something  from  a  container  [syn:  {turn}] 
  4:  publish  a  magazine  or  newspaper,  for  example  [syn:  {publish}, 
  {bring  out},  {put  out},  {issue}] 
  5:  eliminate,  as  of  bodily  substances  [syn:  {discharge},  {expel}, 
  {eject}] 
  6:  generate  and  separate  from  cells  or  bodily  fluids;  "secrete 
  digestive  juices"  [syn:  {secrete}] 
  7:  make  available  or  free  for  sale  or  publication  [syn:  {free}] 
  8:  part  with  [syn:  {relinquish},  {free},  {give  up}] 
  9:  make  available,  as  of  assets;  or  free  for  sale  or 
  publication  [syn:  {unblock},  {unfreeze},  {free}]  [ant:  {freeze}, 
  {freeze}] 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  release 
 
    (Or  "released  version",  "baseline")  A  version  of 
  a  piece  of  software  which  has  been  made  public  (as  opposed  to 
  a  version  that  is  in  development,  or  otherwise  unreleased). 
 
  A  release  is  either  a  {major  release},  a  {revision},  or  a 
  {bugfix}. 
 
  Pre-release  versions  may  be  called  {alpha  test},  or  {beta 
  test}  versions. 
 
  See  {change  management}. 
 
  (1996-08-04) 
 
 

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