释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024free /fri/USA pronunciation adj., fre•er, fre•est, adv., v., freed, free•ing. adj. - Governmentenjoying personal rights or liberty:free from bondage.
- Governmentexisting under, characterized by, or having civil and political liberties:the free nations of the world.
- exempt from outside authority, interference, or restriction;
independent:You have a free choice. - able to do something at will or as one wishes:[be + ~ + to + verb]They were free to go at any time.
- clear of obstructions or obstacles;
not blocked:a free flow of water. - without engagements or obligations:have free time after class.
- not occupied or in use:The room is free now.
- exempt or released;
unburdened:She seems so free from worry. - provided without a charge:free parking.
- loose;
unattached:Tie the free end of the rope to the dock. - lacking self-restraint;
loose:He was a little too free and easy toward women. - ready or generous in giving;
not holding back:free spending. - not literal;
not exact; loose:a free translation of the speech. adv. - in a free manner;
freely. - loose;
no longer restrained or held back:The button came free and fell off. v. - to set at liberty:[~ + object]The enemy freed the hostages.
- to exempt or deliver:[~ + object + from + object]hoped his new invention would free his people from hunger.
- to relieve or rid:[~ + object + of + object]to free oneself of responsibility.
- to disengage;
clear: [~ + object]If you hold these packages I can free my arm and open the door.[~ + object + from + object]freed the trapped victims from the wreckage. - free up:
- [ ~ + up + obj] to release, as from restrictions:Can you free up some time to meet with us?
- to disentangle: [ ~ + up + obj]:to free up this stuck valve.[ ~ + obj + up]:to free it up.
Idioms- Idioms for free, without charge:They mended my jacket for free.
- free and clear, without any debt or restriction:paid off the mortgage free and clear.
- Idioms set free, to release;
liberate: [set + object + ~]set the hostages free.[set + ~ + object]to set free the hostages. - Idioms with a free hand, generously:donated money with a free hand.
free is an adjective and a verb, freely is an adverb, freedom is a noun:Are you free tomorrow evening? He worked hard to free the slaves from captivity. You may speak freely; you're among friends. We need some freedom of choice. -free, suffix. - -free is attached to nouns to form adjectives with the meaning "not containing (the noun mentioned);
without'':sugar + -free → sugar-free (= not containing sugar);trouble + -free → trouble-free (= without trouble).
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024free (frē),USA pronunciation adj., fre•er, fre•est, adv., v., freed, free•ing. adj. - Governmentenjoying personal rights or liberty, as a person who is not in slavery:a land of free people.
- Governmentpertaining to or reserved for those who enjoy personal liberty:They were thankful to be living on free soil.
- Governmentexisting under, characterized by, or possessing civil and political liberties that are, as a rule, constitutionally guaranteed by representative government:the free nations of the world.
- Governmentenjoying political autonomy, as a people or country not under foreign rule;
independent. - exempt from external authority, interference, restriction, etc., as a person or one's will, thought, choice, action, etc.;
independent; unrestricted. - able to do something at will;
at liberty:free to choose. - clear of obstructions or obstacles, as a road or corridor:The highway is now free of fallen rock.
- not occupied or in use:I'll try to phone her again if the line is free.
- exempt or released from something specified that controls, restrains, burdens, etc. (usually fol. by from or of ):free from worry; free of taxes.
- having immunity or being safe (usually fol. by from):free from danger.
- provided without, or not subject to, a charge or payment:free parking; a free sample.
- given without consideration of a return or reward:a free offer of legal advice.
- unimpeded, as motion or movement;
easy, firm, or swift. - not held fast;
loose; unattached:to get one's arm free. - not joined to or in contact with something else:The free end of the cantilever sagged.
- acting without self-restraint or reserve:to be too free with one's tongue.
- ready or generous in giving;
liberal; lavish:to be free with one's advice. - given readily or in profusion;
unstinted. - frank and open;
unconstrained, unceremonious, or familiar. - unrestrained by decency;
loose or licentious:free behavior. - not subject to special regulations, restrictions, duties, etc.:The ship was given free passage.
- of, pertaining to, or characterized by free enterprise:a free economy.
- that may be used by or is open to all:a free market.
- engaged in by all present;
general:a free fight. - not literal, as a translation, adaptation, or the like;
loose. - uncombined chemically:free oxygen.
- traveling without power;
under no force except that of gravity or inertia:free flight. - Phonetics(of a vowel) situated in an open syllable (opposed to checked).
- at liberty to enter and enjoy at will (usually fol. by of ):to be free of a friend's house.
- not subject to rules, set forms, etc.:The young students had an hour of free play between classes.
- easily worked, as stone, land, etc.
- Mathematics(of a vector) having specified magnitude and direction but no specified initial point. Cf. bound1 (def. 9).
- Nautical, Naval TermsAlso, large. (of a wind) nearly on the quarter, so that a sailing vessel may sail free.
- not containing a specified substance (often used in combination):a sugar-free soft drink.
- Oceanography, Linguistics(of a linguistic form) occurring as an independent construction, without necessary combination with other forms, as most words. Cf. bound1 (def. 11).
- for free, [Informal.]without charge:The tailor mended my jacket for free.
- free and clear, [Law.]without any encumbrance, as a lien or mortgage:They owned their house free and clear.
- free and easy:
- Idiomsunrestrained;
casual; informal. - Idiomsexcessively or inappropriately casual;
presumptuous.
- Idioms set free, to release;
liberate; free:The prisoners were set free. - Idioms with a free hand, generously;
freely; openhandedly:He entertains visitors with a free hand. - without cost, payment, or charge.
adv. - in a free manner;
freely. - Nautical, Naval Termsaway from the wind, so that a sailing vessel need not be close-hauled:running free.
- Idioms make free with:
- to use as one's own;
help oneself to:If you make free with their liquor, you won't be invited again. - to treat with too much familiarity;
take liberties with.
v.t. - to make free;
set at liberty; release from bondage, imprisonment, or restraint. - to exempt or deliver (usually fol. by from).
- to relieve or rid (usually fol. by of ):to free oneself of responsibility.
- to disengage;
clear (usually fol. by from or of ). - free up:
- to release, as from restrictions:Congress voted to free up funds for the new highway system.
- to disentangle:It took an hour to free up the traffic jam.
- bef. 900; Middle English fre, Old English frēo; cognate with Gothic freis, Old High German frī (German frei), Dutch vrij, Sanskrit priyá- dear. Cf. friend, Friday
free′ness, n. - 44.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See release.
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