1. (v. t.) To relieve of a charge, load, or burden; to empty of a load or cargo; to unburden; to unload; as, to discharge a vessel.

2. (v. t.) To free of the missile with which anything is charged or loaded; to let go the charge of; as, to discharge a bow, catapult, etc.; especially, said of firearms, -- to fire off; to shoot off; also, to relieve from a state of tension, as a Leaden jar.

3. (v. t.) To of something weighing upon or impeding over one, as a debt, claim, obligation, responsibility, accusation, etc.; to absolve; to acquit; to clear.

4. (v. t.) To relieve of an office or employment; to send away from service; to dismiss.

5. (v. t.) To release legally from confinement; to set at liberty; as, to discharge a prisoner.

6. (v. t.) To put forth, or remove, as a charge or burden; to take out, as that with which anything is loaded or filled; as, to discharge a cargo.

7. (v. t.) To let fly, as a missile; to shoot.

8. (v. t.) To set aside; to annul; to dismiss.

9. (v. t.) To throw off the obligation of, as a duty or debt; to relieve one's self of, by fulfilling conditions, performing duty, trust, and the like; hence, to perform or execute, as an office, or part.

10. (v. t.) To send away (a creditor) satisfied by payment; to pay one's debt or obligation to.

11. (v. t.) To give forth; to emit or send out; as, a pipe discharges water; to let fly; to give expression to; to utter; as, to discharge a horrible oath.

12. (v. t.) To prohibit; to forbid.

13. (v. i.) To throw off or deliver a load, charge, or burden; to unload; to emit or give vent to fluid or other contents; as, the water pipe discharges freely.

14. (n.) The act of discharging; the act of relieving of a charge or load; removal of a load or burden; unloading; as, the discharge of a ship; discharge of a cargo.

15. (v. t.) Firing off; explosive removal of a charge; explosion; letting off; as, a discharge of arrows, of artillery.

16. (v. t.) Act of relieving of something which oppresses or weighs upon one, as an obligation, liability, debt, accusation, etc.; acquittance; as, the discharge of a debtor.

17. (v. t.) Act of removing, or getting rid of, an obligation, liability, etc.; fulfillment, as by the payment of a debt, or the performance of a trust or duty.

18. (v. t.) Release or dismissal from an office, employment, etc.; dismissal; as, the discharge of a workman by his employer.

19. (v. t.) Legal release from confinement; liberation; as, the discharge of a prisoner.

20. (n.) The state of being discharged or relieved of a debt, obligation, office, and the like; acquittal.

21. (v. t.) That which discharges or releases from an obligation, liability, penalty, etc., as a price of ransom, a legal document.

22. (n.) A flowing or issuing out; emission; vent; evacuation; also, that which is discharged or emitted; as, a rapid discharge of water from the pipe.

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