To Fire
To Let Loose, To Emit, To Set Free
transitive verb, godan verb
Remember 放す (to release) and 放れる (to get loose)? 放つ is another transitive verb of the release family, but this is a more dynamic kind of releasing, so it means to fire off something.
You can remember this because you usually need つ (two) hands to fire something off properly, whether it's a slingshot or a hit in baseball.
放つ often implies setting something free with force or impact. It's used to describe things like shooting arrows, firing bullets, letting animals loose into the wild, or even strongly emitting something like light or an offensive smell. More figuratively, it can describe the act of releasing something into the world, whether that's a creative work you're unveiling or a hot take you're firing off on social media.
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You learned this reading already so you should be able to read it!
火を放つ
to set fire
矢を放つ
to shoot an arrow
光を放つ
to emit light
あの選手はすごいホームランを放つらしいですよ。
I heard that player really smashes home runs.
この鳥をいつかカゴから放つつもりですか。
Do you intend to free this bird from its cage someday?
SNSに放つ言葉は、ちゃんと選んだ方が良いですよ。
You ought to be careful when choosing the words you fire off on social media.