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Release vs Dispense - What's the difference?

release | dispense |

As nouns the difference between release and dispense

is that release is the event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms) while dispense is cost, expenditure.

As verbs the difference between release and dispense

is that release is to let go (of); to cease to hold or contain while dispense is to issue, distribute, or put out.

release

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) relaisser (variant of relascher).

Noun

(en noun)
  • The event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Charles T. Ambrose
  • , title= Alzheimer’s Disease , volume=101, issue=3, page=200, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.}}
  • (software) The distribution of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product; the distribution can be both public or private.
  • Anything recently released or made available (as for sale).
  • That which is released, untied or let go.
  • Derived terms
    * prerelease * release notes * release from requirement * software release * release process

    Verb

    (releas)
  • To let go (of); to cease to hold or contain.
  • To make available to the public.
  • To free or liberate; to set free.
  • To discharge.
  • (telephone) (of a call) To hang up.
  • (legal) To let go, as a legal claim; to discharge or relinquish a right to, as lands or tenements, by conveying to another who has some right or estate in possession, as when the person in remainder releases his right to the tenant in possession; to quit.
  • To loosen; to relax; to remove the obligation of.
  • to release an ordinance
    (Hooker)
  • (soccer) To set up; to provide with a goal-scoring opportunity
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 13, author=Sam Lyon, work=BBC
  • , title= Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Arsenal , passage=With the Gunners far too lightweight in midfield, Mikel Arteta dropped back into a deeper-lying role. This freed Yossi Benayoun to go further forward, a move that helped forge a rare Arsenal chance on 30 minutes when the Israeli released Van Persie, only for the Dutchman's snap-shot to be tipped around the post.}}
    Antonyms
    * hold

    Etymology 2

    Verb

    (releas)
  • To lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back.
  • dispense

    English

    Verb

  • To issue, distribute, or put out.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • He is delighted to dispense a share of it to all the company.
  • * 1955 , William Golding, The Inheritors , Faber and Faber 2005, p.40:
  • The smoky spray seemed to trap whatever light there was and to dispense it subtly.
  • To apply, as laws to particular cases; to administer; to execute; to manage; to direct.
  • to dispense justice
  • * Dryden
  • While you dispense the laws, and guide the state.
  • To supply or make up a medicine or prescription.
  • The pharmacist dispensed my tablets.
    An optician can dispense spectacles.
  • To eliminate or do without; used intransitively with with .
  • I wish he would dispense with the pleasantries and get to the point.
  • (obsolete) To give a dispensation to (someone); to excuse.
  • * , II.34:
  • After his victories, he often gave them the reines to all licenciousnesse, for a while dispencing them from all rules of military discipline.
  • * Macaulay
  • It was resolved that all members of the House who held commissions, should be dispensed from parliamentary attendance.
  • * Johnson
  • He appeared to think himself born to be supported by others, and dispensed from all necessity of providing for himself.
  • (obsolete) To compensate; to make up; to make amends.
  • * Spenser
  • One loving hour / For many years of sorrow can dispense .
  • * Gower
  • His sin was dispensed / With gold, whereof it was compensed.

    Derived terms

    * dispensary * dispenser

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Cost, expenditure.
  • (obsolete) The act of dispensing, dispensation.
  • * , II.xii:
  • what euer in this worldly state / Is sweet, and pleasing vnto liuing sense, / Or that may dayntiest fantasie aggrate, / Was poured forth with plentifull dispence [...].