Release vs Unlock - What's the difference?

In transitive terms the difference between release and unlock

is that release is to lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back while unlock is to disclose or reveal previously unknown knowledge.

As verbs the difference between release and unlock

is that release is to let go (of); to cease to hold or contain while unlock is to undo or open a lock or something locked by, for example, turning a key, or selecting a combination.

As a noun release

is the event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).

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.

unlock

English

Verb

(en verb)

To undo or open a lock or something locked by, for example, turning a key, or selecting a combination.

To obtain access to something.

*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)

, title= Welcome to the plastisphere , passage=Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.}}

To disclose or reveal previously unknown knowledge.

To be or become unfastened or unrestrained.

He had come straight up without mishap or swerving off his course, and his shut teeth unlocked .