timed-release
|timed-re-lease|
/ˌtaɪmd rɪˈliːs/
gradual release over time
Etymology
'timed-release' originates from Modern English, specifically the combination of 'timed' (the past participle of 'time') and 'release', where 'time' ultimately comes from Old English 'tīma' meaning 'a limited period' and 'release' comes via Old French (e.g. 'reles') meaning 'to set free'.
'timed-release' developed as a compound in recent English usage by joining 'timed' (from the verb 'time', Old English 'tīman') with 'release' (which passed into Middle English from Old French and evolved to modern English 'release'), producing the technical phrase used in pharmacology and engineering.
Individually, 'time' originally referred to a period or the act of measuring, and 'release' meant 'to set free'; together in modern usage they shifted to mean 'to allow controlled or gradual release over a measured period', a specialized sense in medicine and materials.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a formulation or product that releases an active ingredient gradually over time.
The pharmacist explained how the timed-release works and when to take it.
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Adjective 1
designed to release a drug or other substance gradually over a period of time rather than all at once (e.g., timed-release medication).
The patient was prescribed a timed-release tablet to maintain steady blood levels.
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Last updated: 2025/10/25 18:44