Free Definition–adjective | 1. | enjoying personal rights or liberty, as a person who is not in slavery: a land of free people. | | 2. | pertaining to or reserved for those who enjoy personal liberty: They were thankful to be living on free soil. | | 3
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. | existing 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. | | 4. | enjoying political autonomy, as a people or country not under foreign rule; independent. | | 5. | exempt from external authority, interference, restriction, etc., as a person or one's will, thought, choice, action, etc.; independent; unrestricted. | | 6. | able to do something at will; at liberty: free to choose. | | 7. | clear of obstructions or obstacles, as a road or corridor: The highway is now free of fallen rock. | | 8. | not occupied or in use: I'll try to phone her again if the line is free. | | 9. | exempt or released from something spe
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cified that controls, restrains, burdens, etc. (usually fol. by from or of): free from worry; free of taxes. | | 10. | having immunity or being safe (usually fol. by from): free from danger. | | 11. | provided without, or not subject to, a charge or payment: free parking; a free sample. | | 12. | given without consideration of a return or reward: a free offer of legal advice. | | 13. | unimpeded, as motion or movement; easy, firm, or swift. | | 14. | not held fast; loose; unattached: to get one's arm free. | | 15. | not joined to or in contact with something else: The free end of the cantilever sagged. | | 16. | acting without self-restraint or reserve: to be too free with one's tongue. | | 17. | ready or generous in giving; liberal; lavish: to be free with one's advice. | | 18. | given readily or in profusion; unstinted. | | 19. | frank and open; unconstrained, unceremonious, or familiar. | | 20. | unrestrained by decency; loose or licentious: free behavior. | | 21. | not subject to special regulations, restrictions, duties, etc.: The ship was given free passage. | | 22. | of, pertaining to, or characterized by free enterprise: a free economy. | | 23. | that may be used by or is open to all: a free market. | | 24. | engaged in by all present; general: a free fight. | | 25. | not literal, as a translation, adaptation, or the like; loose. | | 26. | uncombined chemically: free oxygen. | | 27. | traveling without power; under no force except that of gravity or inertia: free flight. | | 28. | Phonetics. (of a vowel) situated in an open syllable (opposed to checked ). | | 29. | at liberty to enter and enjoy at will (usually fol. by of): to be free of a friend's house. | | 30. | not subject to rules, set forms, etc.: The young students had an hour of free play between classes. | | 31. | easily worked, as stone, land, etc. | | 32. | Mathematics. (of a vector) having specified magnitude and direction but no specified initial point. Compare bound 1 (def. 9). | | 33. | Also, large. Nautical. (of a wind) nearly on the quarter, so that a sailing vessel may sail free. | | 34. | not containing a specified substance (often used in combination): a sugar-free soft drink. | | 35. | (of a linguistic form) occurring as an independent construction, without necessary combination with other forms, as most words. Compare bound 1 (def. 11). | | 36. | without cost, payment, or charge. | –adverb | 37. | in a free manner; freely. | | 38. | Nautical. away from the wind, so that a sailing vessel need not be close-hauled: running free. | –verb (used with object) | 39. | to make free; set at liberty; release from bondage, imprisonment, or restraint. | | 40. | to exempt or deliver (usually fol. by from). |
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| 41. | to relieve or rid (usually fol. by of): to free oneself of responsibility. | | 42. | to disengage; clear (usually fol. by from or of). | —Verb phrase | 43. | free up, | a. | to release, as from restrictions: Congress voted to free up funds for the new highway system. | | b. | to disentangle: It took an hour to free up the traffic jam. | |
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—Idioms | 44. | for free, Informal. without charge: The tailor mended my jacket for free. | | 45. | free and clear, Law. without any encumbrance, as a lien or mortgage: They owned their house free and clear. | | 46. | free and easy, | a. | unrestrained; casual; informal. | | b. | excessively or inappropriately casual; presumptuous. | | | 47. | make free with, | a. | to use as one's own; help oneself to: If you make free with their liquor, you won't be invited again. | | b. | to treat with too much familiarity; take liberties with. | | | 48. | set free, to release; liberate; free: The prisoners were set free. | | 49. | with a free hand, generously; freely; openhandedly: He entertains visitors with a free hand. | |
