release
verb [ T ]
uk/rɪˈliːs/ us COMMUNICATIONS
to make information available to the public:
According to a study released last week, nearly 250,000 Britons emigrated last year.
release a statement/document/report The conservation group released a report accusing petroleum companies of causing widespread pollution.
release details/figures/findings Figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders show that fixed-rate products accounted for 78% of mortgages in August.
Copies of the correspondence between the attorneys have now been released to the media.
COMMERCE
to start to sell a new product:
Only a very small percentage of the software games released each year actually make money.
release a CD/DVD/movie The record company has just released a CD that brings together the artist's solo and collaborative work.
FINANCE
to make money available to be spent:
A spokesman for the transport group said new debt arrangements would release €500 million.
Selling their home to release the equity is some people's only way of funding their living expenses in old age.
PRODUCTION
to produce gases or chemical substances as part of a manufacturing or industrial process:
Many industrial processes are still releasing great quantities of carbon dioxide.
to officially say that someone no longer has a job, position, or responsibility:
release sb from sth The club has agreed to release three of its players from contract.
release
noun
uk/rɪˈliːs/ us [ S or U ] COMMERCE
the act of making a new product available to buy or a new film available to see:
The album sold more than 200,000 copies in the week following its June 12 release.
The movie's release date has been pushed back six weeks.
Sales peak when retailers time their promotion campaigns with the release of a box-office hit like Star Wars.
Throughout the country, people have been queuing outside stores as they anticipate the commercial release of the new phone.
after/on/since release Customers purchasing new computers have been offered a free upgrade to the latest operating system on its release.
be/go on release A Blu-Ray version of the movie is now on general release.
[ C ] COMMERCE
a new product that is made available to buy, especially a CD, DVD, or a piece of software:
new/recent/latest release Three of the major Hollywood film studios agreed to sell their older movies - but not new releases - through iTunes™.
[ S or U ] COMMUNICATIONS
the act of making information available to the public:
The report's release resulted in share prices dropping dramatically.
A temporary order was granted by the judge preventing the release of about 900 pages of e-mails.
the release of information/reports/figures The rand lost ground again after the release of worse-than-expected gold and foreign exchange figures.
[ C ] COMMUNICATIONS
an official statement or document that is made available to the public:
The city's GDP, down 5% to $48.86 billion, reflected the blow struck by the earthquake, the bureau said in a release.
a news/press release
issue/put out a release We will not be issuing a release on any tax increases until work on the state budget for the next fiscal year is complete.
[ C or U ] PRODUCTION
a process in which gases or chemical substances are produced as part of manufacturing or industrial processes:
The company said its level of air emissions would stay about the same under the new permit, although it did acknowledge that the permit would allow larger releases.
Any breach of safety regulations and resulting damage within a reactor could lead to a release of radiation.
[ S or U ] FINANCE
the act of making money available to be spent:
release of sth Stock market indexes have recorded a steady growth in anticipation of early release of funds by the international donor agencies.
[ S or U ]
the act of making something available to be used:
release of sth Crude oil prices edged up to $29.66 amid disappointment that Europe has postponed any release of oil from its strategic reserves.
See also
block release
day release
press release