rɪˈli:s v. & n. --v.tr. 1 (often foll. by from) set
free;
liberate,
unfasten. 2
allow to
move from a fixed
position. 3 a
make (information, a
recording, etc.) publicly or
generally available. b
issue (a
film etc.)
for general exhibition. 4
Law a
remit (a debt). b
surrender (a right). c make
over (property or money) to
another. --n. 1
deliverance or
liberation from a
restriction,
duty, or
difficulty. 2 a
handle or
catch that releases
part of a
mechanism. 3 a
document or
item of
information made available for
publication (press release). 4 a a film or
record etc. that is released. b
the act or an
instance of releasing or the process of
being released in
this way. 5 Law a the act of releasing (property,
money, or a right) to another. b a document effecting this. øøreleasable adj. releasee n. (in
sense 4 of v.). releaser n. releasor n. (in sense 4 of v.). [ME f. OF reles (n.), relesser (v.), relaiss(i)er f. L relaxare: see RELAX]