Other forms: released, releases, releasing
To release is to let something go free. Release the prisoner, release a film, release the brake.
The range is wide because letting go covers so much: prisoners, films, records, pressure, statements and grip all get released. A press release is issued rather than freed, which is the same idea worn thin. Note that the word comes from the same Latin as relax — both mean loosening.
1verbreleaseTo let something go free.
“The police released him after questioning, as there was no evidence against him.”
2verbavailableTo make available to the public.
“The band will release their new album next month.”
Too few real examples of this word to estimate which sense is commonest.
release is a letting go.
Old French relaisser comes from Latin relaxare, to loosen. Relax and relish come from the same loosening.
Old French
relaisser
Middle English
relesen
English, today
release
From Middle English relesen, from Old French relaisser. From Middle English relesen, relessen, from Old French relaisser (variant of relascher).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA