Discharge vs. Exhaust — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 17, 2024
Discharge refers to the release or expulsion of substances, while exhaust specifically denotes the expulsion of gases or fumes from an engine.
Difference Between Discharge and Exhaust
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Discharge generally refers to the release or expulsion of substances, including liquids, solids, gases, or even people from a place. Exhaust, on the other hand, specifically refers to the release of gases or fumes, typically from an engine or mechanical system. It is commonly associated with the emission of waste gases from vehicles or industrial processes.
In a medical context, discharge can refer to bodily fluids being expelled, such as nasal discharge or wound discharge. Exhaust does not apply in this context, as it is not related to bodily functions but rather to mechanical and industrial emissions.
Environmentally, discharge can refer to the release of pollutants into water bodies, whereas exhaust pertains to air pollution caused by the release of gases from engines or industrial processes.
Discharge can occur in various forms and scenarios, such as legal (discharge from prison) or financial (discharge of a debt). Exhaust, however, is more specific to mechanical systems and the release of waste gases.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Release or expulsion of substances
Expulsion of gases or fumes
ADVERTISEMENT
Contexts
Medical, legal, electrical, financial
Mechanical, automotive, industrial
Form
Can be liquid, solid, gas, or people
Specifically gases or fumes
Medical Usage
Refers to bodily fluids
Not applicable
Environmental Impact
Pollutants in water bodies
Air pollution from combustion processes
Compare with Definitions
Discharge
The completion or fulfillment of an obligation.
After serving 20 years, he was granted an honorable discharge from the army.
Exhaust
The emission of gases or fumes from an engine.
The car's exhaust system was leaking, causing loud noises and poor performance.
Discharge
To release, as from confinement, care, or duty
Discharge a patient.
Discharge a soldier.
Exhaust
Waste gases emitted from combustion processes.
The exhaust from the factory's chimneys contributes to air pollution.
Discharge
To let go; empty out
A train discharging commuters.
Exhaust
The system or part of a machine through which gases are expelled.
The mechanic replaced the rusted exhaust pipe with a new one.
Discharge
To pour forth; emit
A vent discharging steam.
Exhaust
To tire out or deplete energy.
The strenuous workout exhausted her completely.
Discharge
To shoot
Discharge a pistol.
Exhaust
To make extremely weary; wear out.
Discharge
To remove from office or employment.
Exhaust
To escape or pass out
Steam exhausts through this valve.
Discharge
To perform the obligations or demands of (an office, duty, or task).
Exhaust
The escape or release of vaporous waste material, as from an engine.
Discharge
To comply with the terms of (a debt or promise, for example).
Exhaust
The fumes or gases so released.
Discharge
(Law) To release from debt, as in bankruptcy.
Exhaust
A duct or pipe through which waste material is emitted.
Discharge
To remove (color) from cloth, as by chemical bleaching.
Exhaust
An apparatus for drawing out noxious air or waste material by means of a partial vacuum.
Discharge
(Electricity) To cause the release of stored energy or electric charge from (a battery, for example).
Exhaust
(transitive) To draw or let out wholly; to drain off completely.
The water was exhausted out of the well.
Moisture of the earth is exhausted by evaporation.
Discharge
To apportion (weight) evenly, as over a door.
Exhaust
(transitive) To empty by drawing or letting out the contents
To exhaust a well
To exhaust a treasury
Discharge
To relieve (a part) of excess weight by distribution of pressure.
Exhaust
To use up; to deplete, drain or expend wholly, or until the supply comes to an end
My grandfather seemingly never exhausts his supply of bad jokes.
To exhaust one's resources
To exhaust all possibilities
You're exhausting my patience.
I exhausted my strength walking up the hill.
Discharge
To clear the record of the loan of (a returned library book).
Exhaust
(transitive) To tire out; to wear out; to cause to be without any energy.
The marathon exhausted me.
Discharge
To relieve (a ship, for example) of a burden or of contents; unload.
Exhaust
(transitive) To discuss thoroughly or completely.
That subject has already been fully exhausted.
Discharge
To unload or empty (contents).
Exhaust
To subject to the action of various solvents in order to remove all soluble substances or extractives.
To exhaust a drug successively with water, alcohol, and ether
Discharge
To go off; fire
The musket discharged loudly.
Exhaust
To expel (as exhaust).
Discharge
To pour forth, emit, or release contents.
Exhaust
(intransitive) To discharge or escape (as exhaust).
Discharge
To become blurred, as a color or dye; run.
Exhaust
A system consisting of the parts of an engine through which burned gases or steam are discharged; see also exhaust system.
Discharge
To undergo the release of stored energy or electric charge.
Exhaust
The steam let out of a cylinder after it has done its work there.
Discharge
To get rid of a burden, load, or weight.
Exhaust
The dirty air let out of a room through a register or pipe provided for the purpose.
Discharge
The act of shooting or firing a projectile or weapon.
Exhaust
An exhaust pipe, especially on a motor vehicle.
Discharge
A flowing out or pouring forth; emission; secretion
A discharge of pus.
Exhaust
Exhaust gas.
Discharge
The amount or rate of emission or ejection.
Exhaust
(obsolete) Exhausted; used up.
Discharge
Something that is discharged, released, emitted, or excreted
A watery discharge.
Exhaust
To draw or let out wholly; to drain off completely; as, to exhaust the water of a well; the moisture of the earth is exhausted by evaporation.
Discharge
The act or an instance of removing an obligation, burden, or responsibility.
Exhaust
To empty by drawing or letting out the contents; as, to exhaust a well, or a treasury.
Discharge
Fulfillment of the terms of something, such as a debt or promise.
Exhaust
To drain, metaphorically; to use or expend wholly, or till the supply comes to an end; to deprive wholly of strength; to use up; to weary or tire out; to wear out; as, to exhaust one's strength, patience, or resources.
A decrepit, exhausted old man at fifty-five.
Discharge
Performance, as of an office or duty.
Exhaust
To bring out or develop completely; to discuss thoroughly; as, to exhaust a subject.
Discharge
Dismissal or release from employment, service, care, or confinement.
Exhaust
To subject to the action of various solvents in order to remove all soluble substances or extractives; as, to exhaust a drug successively with water, alcohol, and ether.
Discharge
An official document certifying such release, especially from military service.
Exhaust
Drained; exhausted; having expended or lost its energy.
Discharge
Release of stored energy in a capacitor by the flow of current between its terminals.
Exhaust
Pertaining to steam, air, gas, etc., that is released from the cylinder of an engine after having preformed its work.
Discharge
Conversion of chemical energy to electric energy in a storage battery.
Exhaust
The steam let out of a cylinder after it has done its work there.
Discharge
A flow of electricity in a dielectric, especially in a rarefied gas.
Exhaust
The foul air let out of a room through a register or pipe provided for the purpose.
Discharge
Elimination of net electric charge from a charged body.
Exhaust
Gases ejected from an engine as waste products
Discharge
The act of removing a load or burden.
Exhaust
System consisting of the parts of an engine through which burned gases or steam are discharged
Discharge
To accomplish or complete, as an obligation.
Exhaust
Wear out completely;
This kind of work exhausts me
I'm beat
He was all washed up after the exam
Discharge
To free of a debt, claim, obligation, responsibility, accusation, etc.; to absolve; to acquit; to forgive; to clear.
Exhaust
Use up (resources or materials);
This car consumes a lot of gas
We exhausted our savings
They run through 20 bottles of wine a week
Discharge
To send away (a creditor) satisfied by payment; to pay one's debt or obligation to.
Exhaust
Deplete;
Exhaust one's savings
We quickly played out our strength
Discharge
To set aside; to annul; to dismiss.
Exhaust
Use up the whole supply of;
We have exhausted the food supplies
Discharge
To expel or let go.
Exhaust
Create a vacuum in (a bulb, flask, reaction vessel, etc.)
Discharge
To let fly, as a missile; to shoot.
Exhaust
The act of using up a resource completely.
After hours of hiking, they had exhausted their water supply.
Discharge
(electricity) To release (an accumulated charge).
Discharge
To relieve of an office or employment; to send away from service; to dismiss.
Discharge
(medicine) To release (an inpatient) from hospital.
Discharge
(military) To release (a member of the armed forces) from service.
Discharge
To release legally from confinement; to set at liberty.
To discharge a prisoner
Discharge
To operate (any weapon that fires a projectile, such as a shotgun or sling).
Discharge
(logic) To release (an auxiliary assumption) from the list of assumptions used in arguments, and return to the main argument.
Discharge
To unload a ship or another means of transport.
Discharge
To put forth, or remove, as a charge or burden; to take out, as that with which anything is loaded or filled.
To discharge a cargo
Discharge
To give forth; to emit or send out.
A pipe discharges water.
Discharge
To let fly; to give expression to; to utter.
He discharged a horrible oath.
Discharge
To bleach out or to remove or efface, as by a chemical process.
To discharge the colour from a dyed fabric in order to form light figures on a dark background
Discharge
To prohibit; to forbid.
Discharge
Pus or exudate (other than blood) from a wound or orifice, usually due to infection or pathology.
Discharge
The act of accomplishing (an obligation) or repaying a debt etc.; performance.
Discharge
The act of expelling or letting go.
Discharge
The act of firing a projectile, especially from a firearm.
Discharge
The process of unloading something.
Discharge
The process of flowing out.
Discharge
(electricity) The act of releasing an accumulated charge.
Discharge
(medicine) The act of releasing an inpatient from hospital.
Discharge
(military) The act of releasing a member of the armed forces from service.
Discharge
(hydrology) The volume of water transported by a river in a certain amount of time, usually in units of m3/s (cubic meters per second).
Discharge
To relieve of a charge, load, or burden; to empty of a load or cargo; to unburden; to unload; as, to discharge a vessel.
Discharge
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 Leyden jar.
The galleys also did oftentimes, out of their prows, discharge their great pieces against the city.
Feeling in other cases discharges itself in indirect muscular actions.
Discharge
To of something weighing upon or impeding over one, as a debt, claim, obligation, responsibility, accusation, etc.; to absolve; to acquit; to clear.
Discharged of business, void of strife.
In one man's fault discharge another man of his duty.
Discharge
To relieve of an office or employment; to send away from service; to dismiss.
Discharge the common sortWith pay and thanks.
Grindal . . . was discharged the government of his see.
Discharge
To release legally from confinement; to set at liberty; as, to discharge a prisoner.
Discharge
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.
Discharge
To let fly, as a missile; to shoot.
They do discharge their shot of courtesy.
Discharge
To set aside; to annul; to dismiss.
We say such an order was "discharged on appeal."
The order for Daly's attendance was discharged.
Discharge
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.
Had I a hundred tongues, a wit so largeAs could their hundred offices discharge.
Discharge
To send away (a creditor) satisfied by payment; to pay one's debt or obligation to.
If he hadThe present money to discharge the Jew.
Discharge
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.
Discharge
To prohibit; to forbid.
Discharge
To bleach out or to remove or efface, as by a chemical process; as, to discharge the color from a dyed fabric in order to form light figures on a dark ground.
Discharge
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.
The cloud, if it were oily or fatty, would not discharge.
Discharge
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.
Discharge
Firing off; explosive removal of a charge; explosion; letting off; as, a discharge of arrows, of artillery.
Discharge
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.
Discharge
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.
Indefatigable in the discharge of business.
Nothing can absolve us from the discharge of those duties.
Discharge
Release or dismissal from an office, employment, etc.; dismission; as, the discharge of a workman by his employer.
Discharge
Legal release from confinement; liberation; as, the discharge of a prisoner.
Discharge
The state of being discharged or relieved of a debt, obligation, office, and the like; acquittal.
Too secure of our dischargeFrom penalty.
Discharge
That which discharges or releases from an obligation, liability, penalty, etc., as a price of ransom, a legal document.
Death, who sets all free,Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge.
Discharge
A flowing or issuing out; emission; vent; evacuation; also, that which is discharged or emitted; as, a rapid discharge of water from the pipe.
The hemorrhage being stopped, the next occurrence is a thin serous discharge.
Discharge
The equalization of a difference of electric potential between two points. The character of the discharge is mostly determined by the nature of the medium through which it takes place, the amount of the difference of potential, and the form of the terminal conductors on which the difference exists. The discharge may be alternating, continuous, brush, connective, disruptive, glow, oscillatory, stratified, etc.
Discharge
The sudden giving off of energy
Discharge
The act of venting
Discharge
A substance that is emitted or released
Discharge
Any of several bodily processes by which substances go out of the body;
The discharge of pus
Discharge
Electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
Discharge
The pouring forth of a fluid
Discharge
The termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)
Discharge
A formal written statement of relinquishment
Discharge
The act of discharging a gun
Discharge
Complete or carry out;
Discharge one's duties
Discharge
Pour forth or release;
Discharge liquids
Discharge
Eliminate (substances) from the body
Discharge
Free from obligations or duties
Discharge
Remove the charge from
Discharge
Go off or discharge;
The gun fired
Discharge
Pronounce not guilty of criminal charges;
The suspect was cleared of the murder charges
Discharge
Leave or unload, especially of passengers or cargo;
Discharge
Cause to go off;
Fire a gun
Fire a bullet
Discharge
Release from military service
Discharge
Become empty or void of its content;
The room emptied
Discharge
The release of a substance from a container or body.
The factory was fined for the illegal discharge of chemicals into the river.
Discharge
The act of expelling a liquid or gas.
The patient's wound had a significant discharge that needed to be cleaned.
Discharge
The release from a hospital or institution.
She received her discharge papers from the hospital after recovering from surgery.
Discharge
The emission of energy or particles.
The capacitor can hold a charge until it discharges.
Common Curiosities
Can discharge refer to legal matters?
Yes, discharge can refer to the release from legal obligations, such as discharge from prison or military service.
Is discharge always related to fluids?
No, discharge can refer to the release of any substance, including gases, solids, or even people.
What are common sources of exhaust?
Common sources of exhaust include car engines, industrial machines, and power plants.
What is exhaust in automotive terms?
Exhaust in automotive terms refers to the gases expelled from a vehicle's engine through its exhaust system.
Can discharge be used in a financial context?
Yes, discharge can refer to the settlement or cancellation of a debt.
What types of substances can be discharged?
Substances discharged can include liquids, gases, solids, or even individuals (e.g., from a hospital).
Can discharge have environmental impacts?
Yes, the discharge of pollutants into water bodies or the environment can have significant negative impacts.
What does discharge mean in a medical context?
In a medical context, discharge refers to the release of bodily fluids, such as mucus or pus.
What is an exhaust system in a car?
An exhaust system in a car is the system designed to expel combustion gases from the engine safely.
Can discharge refer to energy release?
Yes, discharge can refer to the release of electrical energy from a capacitor or battery.
Is exhaust always related to engines?
While commonly associated with engines, exhaust can also refer to waste gases from other combustion processes.
What are exhaust emissions?
Exhaust emissions are gases released from the combustion process in engines, often containing pollutants.
What does it mean to be exhausted?
Being exhausted means being extremely tired or depleted of energy, unrelated to the mechanical term exhaust.
How does exhaust contribute to pollution?
Exhaust gases, especially from vehicles and industrial processes, contain pollutants that contribute to air pollution.
What is the purpose of an exhaust pipe?
The exhaust pipe directs and releases the waste gases from an engine to the atmosphere.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Rationalism vs. Positivism
Next Comparison
Phonetic vs. PronunciationAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
