Discard, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Discarding.]
1. (Card Playing)
To throw out of one's hand, as superfluous cards; to lay aside (a card or cards).
2. To cast off as useless or as no longer of service; to dismiss from employment, confidence, or favor; to discharge; to turn away. They blame the favorites, and think it nothing extraordinary that the queen should . . . resolve to discard them. Swift.
3. To put or thrust away; to reject. A man discards the follies of boyhood. I. Taylor.
1 more senses
Syn. -- To dismiss; displace; discharge; cashier.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Discard, v. i. (Card Playing)
To make a discard.
Discard, n. (Card Playing)
The act of discarding; also, the card or cards discarded.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for discard; he lists it under renounce.
Where he writes about it:
Abjure, discard, forswear, recall, recant, renounce, retract, and revoke, like abandon, imply some previous connection. — from renounce
To discard is to cast away as useless or worthless; thus, one discards a worn garment; a coquette discards a lover. — from renounce