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free will
free
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
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2009
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© The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information)
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free
/ frē/
•
adj.
(fre·er
/ ˈfrēər/ , fre·est
/ ˈfrēəst/ )
1.
not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes:
I have no ambitions other than to have a happy life and be free
a free choice.
∎
(of a state or its citizens or institutions) subject neither to foreign domination nor to despotic government:
a free press.
∎
not or no longer confined or imprisoned:
the researchers set the birds free.
∎ hist.
not a slave.
∎
able or permitted to take a specified action:
you are free to leave.
∎ [in names]
denoting an ethnic or political group actively opposing an occupying or invading force, in particular the groups that continued resisting the Germans in World War II after the fall of their countries.See also Free French.
2.
not physically restrained, obstructed, or fixed; unimpeded:
she lifted the cat free.
∎
Physics
(of power or energy) disengaged or available. See also free energy.
∎
Physics & Chem.
not bound in an atom, a molecule, or a compound:
the atmosphere of that time contained virtually no free oxygen.See also free radical.
∎
Linguistics
(of a morpheme) able to occur in isolation.
∎ Linguistics
(of syntax) not constrained by word order.
3.
not subject to or constrained by engagements or obligations:
she spent her free time shopping.
∎
(of a facility or piece of equipment) not occupied or in use:
the bathroom was free.
4. (free of/from)
not subject to or affected by (a specified thing, typically an undesirable one):
membership is free of charge.
5.
given or available without charge:
free health care.
6.
using or expending something without restraint; lavish:
she was always free with her money.
∎
frank or unrestrained in speech, expression, or action:
he was free in his talk of revolution.
∎ archaic
overfamiliar or forward in manner.
7.
(of a literary style) not observing the strict laws of form.
∎
(of a translation) conveying only the broad sense; not literal.
8.
Sailing
(of the wind) blowing from a favorable direction to the side or stern of a vessel.
•
adv.
1.
without cost or payment:
ladies were admitted free.
2.
Sailing
with the sheets eased.
•
v.
(frees
, freed
, free·ing
) [tr.]
make free, in particular:
∎
from captivity, confinement, or slavery:
they were freed from jail.
∎
from physical obstruction, restraint, or entanglement:
I had to tug hard and at last freed him.
∎
from restriction or excessive regulation:
his inheritance freed him from financial constraints.
∎
from something undesirable:
free your mind and body of excess tension.
∎
so as to become available for a particular purpose:
this will free up funds for development elsewhere.
PHRASES:
for free inf.
without cost or payment:
these professionals were giving their time for free.
free and easy
informal and relaxed.
free, gratis, and for nothing humorous
without charge.
a free hand
freedom to act at one's own discretion.
free on board
(abbr.: f.o.b. )
including or assuming delivery without charge to the buyer’s named destination.
(a) free reinsee rein.
a free ride
a situation in which someone benefits without having to make a fair contribution:
people have been having a free ride, paying so little rent that there is no money for maintenance.
the free world
the noncommunist countries of the world, as formerly opposed to the Soviet bloc.
it's a free country
said when asserting that a course of action is not illegal or forbidden, often in justification of it.
make free with
treat without ceremony or proper respect:
he'll have something to say about your making free with his belongings.DERIVATIVES:
free·ness
n.
ORIGIN: Old English frēo (adjective), frēon (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vrij and German frei, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘to love,’ shared by friend.
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INTERNET GAMBLING:RON PAUL
Transcript from: Congressional Testimony; 12/3/2009; 561 words
; ...consequenceof their actions. Although I personally believe gambling to be a dumb wasteof money, American citizens should be just as free to spend their moneyplaying online poker as they should be able to buy a used car, enter intoa mortgage, or invest in a hedge...
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 "The O'Reilly Factor (Fox News Network)")
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Pinheads & Patriots: Lindsay Lohan's Critics, Rep. Henry Brown
Transcript from: The O'Reilly Factor (Fox News Network); 12/10/2009; ; 700+ words
; ...com have gone wild. Buy a "Caution: You Are Entering a No Spin Zone" mat and you get two "American Patriot" products free, two of them, in addition to the "We Say Merry Christmas" bumper sticker. Can we give you more stuff, gratis? Is it possible...
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ELIZABETH WARREN, CHAIRWOMAN, CONGRESSIONAL TARP OVERSIGHT PANEL, ELIZABETH WARREN, CHAIRWOMAN, CONGRESSIONAL TARP OVERSIGHT PANEL, HOLDS A HEARING WITH TREASURY SECRETARY GEITHNER
Transcript from: Washington Transcript Service; 12/10/2009; 700+ words
; ...I can understand why a treasury secretary, any treasurysecretary, really, would want to extend TARP. Why not? It's a free optionat taxpayer expense and essentially a blank check to finance any macro-economicstimulus initiative that the executive...
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L.A. Philharmonic's Revolutionary New Conductor
Transcript from: NPR Morning Edition; 10/9/2009; ; 700+ words
; ...air, his head full of dark curls flying, his face lost in ecstasy. Some people stood in line for hours to get tickets to the free concert he conducted last Saturday at the Hollywood Bowl. Ms. LEANNE HAHN(ph): I'm expecting to be flabbergasted. JAFFE...
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White Mt. Puts Expedition Into X-Mas Tree Search
Transcript from: NPR Morning Edition; 12/11/2009; ; 700+ words
; ...MELISSA DICK: I'll lift if you want. Mr. DICK: It's fine. It's out. Ms. MELISSA DICK: You're free? Mr. DICK: It's free. Ms. MELISSA DICK: All right. Mr. DICK: Just pull it out of there. Ms. MELISSA DICK: Ok. I'm going...
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Merchants Feel Sting Of Credit, Debit Fees
Transcript from: NPR Morning Edition; 12/10/2009; ; 700+ words
; ...most lucrative for the banks — and most expensive for the merchants — is the rewards card, the ones that offer free air miles and things like that. The money for those rewards comes from the merchants, through these interchange fees. And...
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SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY GENERAL MARTIN NESIRKY SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY GENERAL MARTIN NESIRKY HOLDS OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL REGULAR NEWS
Transcript from: Washington Transcript Service; 12/10/2009; 700+ words
; ...Himalayas. Today is Human Rights Day. And in a message to mark thisoccasion, the Secretary-General says that no country is free of discrimination.We see it everywhere, in many forms. The Secretary- General also says thatone of these forms is the rise...
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Senate Democrats Near Deal On Health Care
Transcript from: NPR All Things Considered; 12/9/2009; ; 700+ words
; ...out about a potential deal on health care. A small group of Senate Democrats reached that deal yesterday. They're trying to free the overhaul bill from a state of legislative limbo. And five moderates and five liberals may have found a compromise on a government...
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China's Wind Power Plans Turn On Coal
Transcript from: NPR Morning Edition; 12/10/2009; ; 700+ words
; ...WANG JIANXIN (Chairman, Jiuquan Development and Reform Commission): (Through Translator) There's no such thing as a free lunch. We're trying to get the best benefit for the lowest cost. But nothing happens without a sacrifice, and this is a...
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Hard Times Even Harder For Migrant Laborers
Transcript from: NPR Morning Edition; 12/10/2009; ; 700+ words
; ...Spanish spoken) CARLOS: Buenos dias. SANCHEZ: Carlos is too young for school, but Galvan brought him because breakfast is free. A bowl of cereal, juice, an apple, cookies. Galvan and her husband are unemployed right now. Ms. GALVAN: (Spanish spoken...
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SIC 2044 Rice Milling
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of American Industries
...naturally provides protein, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, phosphorous, iron, and potassium. It is also cholesterol free, gluten free, and low in sodium. Rice grows to maturity in 100 to 120 days. When rice is harvested, it is first dried for...
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SIC 2258 Lace and Warp Knit Fabric Mills
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of American Industries
...2000s. As of 2004, Malden Mills was the only one that had emerged from bankruptcy. During the mid-1990s the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) opened new markets for the textile industry...
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SIC 2269 Finishers of Textiles, Not Elsewhere Classified
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of American Industries
...colored prior to weaving or knitting, demand throughout the textile industry began to wane. As of early 1997, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had brought increased imports from this and most other textile categories from Canada and Mexico...
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SIC 2339 Women's, Misses', and Juniors' Outerwear Not Elsewhere Classified
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of American Industries
...moved overseas as a cost-cutting measure, sometimes at the expense of smaller family-based enterprises. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) spurred the migration of operations overseas, forcing smaller...
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SIC 2386 Leather and Sheep-Lined Clothing
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of American Industries
...the jackets for sale to the public for about $320 at the Cockpit stores in New York City, Beverly Hills, and via a toll-free number. Avirex began to sell its aviator wear online in 2002. Although demand for leather apparel was expected to rise slightly...
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