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| free [ free ] |
adjective (comparative fre·er, superlative fre·est) |
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| Definition: |
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1. costing nothing: requiring no money to be paid
  Win a free meal for two.
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2. not kept prisoner: not, or no longer, physically bound or restrained, e.g. as a prisoner or in slavery
Once outside the prison walls he would be a free man.
They hoped to be set free within the week.
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3. not restricted in rights: not subject to censorship or control by a ruler, government, or other authority, and enjoying civil liberties
It's a free country.
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4. self-ruling: not ruled by a foreign country or power
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5. not regulated: not controlled, restricted, or regulated by any external thing
You are free to choose.
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6. not busy: not busy or occupied with work
had virtually no free time
She'll be free in a moment.
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7. not being used: not being used, reserved, or taken by somebody else
no free seats left
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8. not attached: not tied or attached to something
grabbed the free end of the rope
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9. not affected by particular thing: not subject to or affected by a particular thing, especially something undesirable
(
often used in combination
)
drinking water that is free of contamination
a trouble-free trip
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10. not containing something: not containing a particular thing
(
often used in combination
)
a salt-free diet
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11. disregarding traditional limitations: performed or written without being subjected to traditional conventions or restraints
free verse
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12. not blocked: not blocked or obstructed by anything
allowing the free flow of electricity
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13. not physically restricted: not restricted by something such as tight clothing, stiffness, or lack of space
interfering with its free movement
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14. giving something readily: giving or expending something generously or readily
They're very free with their advice.
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15. not exact: not following the original version of something word for word or very precisely
a free translation
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16. open and honest: spontaneous, open, and without awkwardness or reserve in speaking to or dealing with other people
an appealingly free and open manner
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17. chemistry not chemically combined: not chemically combined with another substance
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18. physics not incorporated in larger body: not permanently incorporated in a larger body such as an atom, molecule, or compound
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19. nautical favorable: favorable to sailing
a free wind
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20. linguistics able to be used alone: describes a unit of meaning morpheme that can be used on its own as a word, without needing to be part of another word.
See also bound4adj (sense 1)
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adverb |
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| Definition: |
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1. without cost: without paying any money
They let you in free if you show your student card.
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2. out of restricted position: out of a position in which somebody or something is tied, fixed, restricted, or restrained
managed to wriggle free from his grasp
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transitive verb (past and past participle freed, present participle free·ing, 3rd person present singular frees) |
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| Definition: |
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1. release somebody from captivity: to release somebody from physical bonds or restrictions, captivity, or slavery
The defendants were freed after their acquittal.
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2. rid somebody or something of something: to remove a restriction, a burden, or an unwanted or undesirable thing from somebody or something
freed from the cares of high public office
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3. make somebody or something available: to make somebody or something available for use or able to do something
This should free you to do more of your own research.
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4. unclog something obstructed: to clear something of an obstruction
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| [ Old English freo< Indo-European, "dear, beloved"] |
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for free without paying
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free and easy relaxed, friendly, and informal
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free of charge requiring no money to be paid
All our patients are treated free of charge.
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make free with somebody to behave in too familiar and informal a way toward somebody
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make free with something to use something in an overfamiliar or overindulgent way, without showing respect or restraint
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