Words / B2

dis-CHAHJ/dɪsˈtʃɑːdʒ/

To discharge can mean officially let someone leave hospital, the army, or bankruptcy; or to release a substance: discharge a patient; discharge into the river. Discharge is also a noun. Release is close for leaving; emit is close for gases (later in this set). Do not mix discharge with discard (throw away). NHS: discharge summaries.

Meaning

To officially allow someone to leave hospital, the army, or a court; also to release a substance.

Examples

• “She was discharged from hospital the same afternoon.”
• “The works were fined for illegal discharge into the river, which is the pollution sense.”

Good to know

discharge a patient / from hospital; a discharge summary. Pollution: discharge into water. Mix-up: discard. Noun and verb.

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