free lunch noun (informal)

Something given with apparently no strings attached, but usu received with suspicion

freeˈman or (fem) freeˈwoman noun (pl freeˈmen or freeˈwomen)

1. A person who is free or enjoys liberty
2. A person who holds a particular franchise or privilege

free market noun

A capitalist economic system where prices are allowed to fluctuate solely according to supply and demand

freeˈ-market adjective

free-marketeerˈ noun

freeˈmāson noun

1. In the Middle Ages, a stonemason of a superior grade
2. (often with cap) a member of a secret male fraternity, united in lodges for social enjoyment and mutual assistance

freemasonˈic adjective

freemāˈsonry noun

1. (also with cap) the institutions, practices, etc of freemasons
2. Instinctive understanding and sympathy

free-mindˈed adjective

1. With a mind free or unperplexed
2. Without a load of care

free pardon noun

An unconditional pardon to someone convicted of a crime

freephone see Freefone® above.

free port noun

1. A port open on equal terms to all traders
2. A free-trade zone adjacent to a port or airport, allowing duty-free import and re-export of goods

Freeˈpost® noun

A Royal Mail service which allows inquirers or potential customers to write to a business or organization free of charge, the postage costs being paid by the business or organization concerned

free radical noun

A group of atoms containing at least one unpaired electron existing briefly during certain chemical reactions

freeˈ-range adjective

1. (of poultry) allowed some freedom to move about, not kept in a barn or battery
2. (of eggs) laid by free-range hens

freeˈ-reed adjective (music)

Having a reed that does not touch the side of the aperture

freeˈride or freeride skiing noun

An extreme form of skiing in which participants attempt difficult jumps and turns

free ride noun (informal)

The ability to benefit from a situation, etc without having to bear any of its costs and responsibilities

free-ridˈer noun (informal)

1. A person who enjoys benefits obtained for workers by a trade union without being a member of that trade union
2. Anyone who benefits from an economic situation without paying for the privilege

free running noun

An extreme sport in which participants run through an urban area using techniques from gymnastics, martial arts and climbing to negotiate obstacles

free school noun

1. A school where no tuition fees are exacted
2. (in England) a school that is funded by the government but run independently of the local authority

freeˈ-select intransitive verb (Aust)

To take up crown land under a scheme making land available for small farms

freeˈ-selection (or /-lek'shən/) noun

1. The process of doing so
2. The land so taken

freeˈ-selector (or /-lek'tər/) noun

freeˈsheet noun

A newspaper distributed free

freeˈ-shot noun

(Ger Freischütz) a legendary hunter and marksman who gets a number of bullets (Freikugeln) from the Devil, six of which always hit the mark, while the seventh remains at the Devil's disposal

free skating noun

Competitive figure skating in which the skater selects movements from an officially approved list of jumps, spins, etc

freeˈ-soil adjective

In favour of free territory and opposed to slavery

free-soilˈer noun

freeˈ-space adjective

(of a radio, etc) able to operate only where there is free space, ie where the radio waves are not affected by surrounding objects such as buildings, hills, etc

free speech noun

The right to express one's opinions freely in public

free spirit noun

A person of an independent and individualistic turn of mind

free-spōkˈen adjective

Accustomed to speaking without reserve

free-spōkˈenness noun

freeˈ-standing adjective

Not supported by or attached to anything else

Free States plural noun

In America, before the Civil War of 1861–65, those of the United States in which slavery did not exist, opp to Slave States

freeˈstone noun

1. Any easily wrought building stone without a tendency to split into layers
2. A freestone fruit

adjective

(of a type of peach, etc) having a stone from which the pulp easily separates, opp to clingstone

freeˈstyle adjective

1. (of a (eg swimming or skiing) race or competition) in which a competitor is free to choose which style or method to use or which movements to perform
2. (of wrestling) all-in
3. (of a competitor) taking part in freestyle competitions, etc
4. (of rap music) improvised

noun

1. Freestyle competitions
2. (in swimming now usu) the front crawl (see under front)

intransitive verb

To perform freestyle rap

freeˈstyler noun

1. A competitor in freestyle competitions
2. A performer of freestyle rap

freeˈ-swimming adjective

Swimming about, not attached

freeˈthinker noun

1. A person who rejects authority in religion
2. A rationalist

freeˈthinking noun and adjective

freeˈ-thought noun

free throw noun (basketball)

A throw at a basket without interference, as a penalty against the opposing side for an infringement

free-to-airˈ or free-to-viewˈ adjective

Denoting a television channel for which no extra subscription is required, opp to pay television

freeˈ-tongued adjective

Free-spoken

free trade noun

1. Free or unrestricted trade
2. Free interchange of commodities without protective duties

free-tradˈer noun

1. A person who practises or advocates this
2. A smuggler (obsolete)
3. A smuggling vessel (obsolete)

free verse noun

1. Verse that has no regularity of metre, rhyme, length of lines, etc
2. Rhythmic prose arranged as irregular verses

freeˈ-verser noun

A writer of free verse, a verslibrist

Freeview® noun

A digital terrestrial television service supplied free of charge

free vote noun

A vote left to individual choice, free from party discipline

freeˈware noun (comput sl)

A program that can be copied without charge but not sold

freeˈway noun

1. A toll-free road for high-speed traffic (US)
2. A motorway (S Afr)

freeˈwheel noun

The mechanism of a bicycle by which the rear-wheel may be temporarily disconnected and set free from the driving-gear

freewheelˈ intransitive verb

1. To cycle with the rear wheel so disconnected
2. (of a motor vehicle or its driver) to coast
3. To move, act or live without restraint or concern (figurative)

freewheelˈing noun and adjective

free will noun

1. Freedom of the will from restraint
2. Freedom of choice
3. The power of self-determination

freeˈ-will adjective

1. Spontaneous
2. Voluntary

freewoman see freeman above.

Free World noun

The collective name used of themselves by capitalist democratic countries esp during the Soviet era to differentiate themselves from communist states

feel free (informal)

To regard oneself as permitted

for free (informal)

Given without desire for payment or other return

free alongside ship

Delivered to the quayside free of charge, but exclusive of the cost of loading onto the ship (abbrev fas)

free and easy

1. Unconstrained
2. Cheerfully tolerant

free on board

Delivered on a vessel or other conveyance at no charge at all (abbrev fob)

free on rail

Delivered to a railway station and loaded onto a train free of charge (abbrev for)

it's a free country (informal)

There is no objection to or law against the carrying-out of whatever action has been proposed

make free with

1. To be familiar with or take liberties with
2. To help oneself liberally to

make so free as to

To venture to