Discard

Discard is a term used as both a verb and a noun across various contexts.

As a verb, discard means to throw away, reject, or no longer consider something useful or desirable. It can apply to physical objects, information, or decisions. As a noun, a discard refers to an item that has been cast aside or the act of discarding itself.

In everyday use, discarding involves disposing of unwanted or expired items, often within regulated waste streams that prioritize recycling, reuse, or safe disposal. The term covers household trash, compostables, and materials set aside during cleaning or organizing.

In games, discard has a specific meaning. Players may discard cards, tokens, or other items from their hand or play area, typically placing them in a discard or graveyard pile. The rules of many games hinge on when and how discards are made and how discarded items influence future play.

In computing and data processing, to discard means to delete, ignore, or drop data. A discard operation removes data from memory or a data stream, while discarding changes in software typically reverts to a saved state. In networking and multimedia, discarded packets or frames are those that are not processed, often due to bandwidth limits or errors.

In data analysis and quality control, discarding refers to excluding data points or samples that are invalid or nonrepresentative, such as outliers or corrupted measurements, to improve analysis accuracy.

In fisheries, discards describe bycatch that is thrown back into the sea. Policies addressing discards aim to reduce waste and bycatch, promoting more selective harvesting and landing of marine organisms.