free
adjective, verb, adverb
adjective (freer )
not controlled
1 ~ (to do sth) not under the control or in the power of sb else; able to do what you want:
I have no ambitions other than to have a happy life and be free. Students have a free choice of courses in their final year. You are free to come and go as you please. (spoken) 'Can I use the phone?' 'Please, feel free (     of course you can use it).'
2 not restricted or controlled by anyone else; able to do or say what you want:
A true democracy complete with free speech and a free press was called for. the country's first free election They gave me free access to all the files.
not prisoner
3 (of a person) not a prisoner or slave:
He walked out of jail a free man.
animal / bird
4 not tied up or in a cage:
The researchers set the birds free.
no payment
5 costing nothing:
Admission is free. free samples / tickets / advice We're offering a fabulous free gift with each copy you buy. You can't expect people to work for free (     without payment).
not blocked
6 clear; not blocked:
Ensure there is a free flow of air around the machine.
without sth
7 ~ from / of sth not containing or affected by sth harmful or unpleasant:
free from difficulty / doubt / fear free from artificial colours and flavourings It was several weeks before he was completely free of pain.
8 (-free) (in adjectives) without the thing mentioned:
virtually fat-free yoghurt tax-free earnings a trouble-free life
not attached / trapped
9 ~ (of sth) not attached to sth or trapped by sth:
Pull gently on the free end of the rope. They had to be cut free from their car after the accident. She finally managed to pull herself free.
not being used
10 not being used:
He held out his free hand and I took it. Is this seat free?
not busy
11 ~ (for sth) (of a person or time) without particular plans or arrangements; not busy:
If Sarah is free for lunch I'll take her out. Keep Friday night free for my party. What do you like to do in your free time (     when you are not working)?
ready to give
12 ~ with sth (often disapproving) ready to give sth, especially when it is not wanted:
He's too free with his opinions.
translation
13 a free TRANSLATION is not exact but gives the general meaning
compare LITERAL
IDIOMS
free and easy informal; relaxed:
Life was never going to be so free and easy again.
get, have, etc. a free hand to get, have, etc. the opportunity to do what you want to do and to make your own decisions:
I was given a free hand in designing the syllabus.
get, take, etc. a free ride to get or take sth without paying because sb else is paying for it
it's a free country (spoken) used as a reply when sb suggests that you should not do sth:
It's a free country; I'll say what I like Idioms:

there's no such thing as a free lunch (spoken) used to say that it is not possible to get sth for nothing
more at HOME adv., REIN n.
verb
prisoner
1 [VN] ~ sb (from sth) to allow sb to leave prison or somewhere they have been kept against their WILL (     where they did not want to be kept):
By the end of May nearly 100 of an estimated 2 000 political prisoners had been freed. The hijackers agreed to free a further ten hostages. The starting point for emancipation was the freeing of children of slaves born after a certain date.
sb / sth trapped
2 [VN] ~ sb/sth / yourself (from sth) to move sb/sth that is caught or fixed on sth:
Three people were freed from the wreckage. She struggled to free herself. A good kick finally freed the door. He managed to free his arms from their bonds.
remove sth
3 [VN] ~ sb/sth of / from sb/sth to remove sth that is unpleasant or not wanted from sb/sth
SYN RID:
These exercises help free the body of tension. The police are determined to free the town of violent crime. The centre aims to free young people from dependency on drugs.
make available
4 [VN] ~ sb/sth (up) to make sb/sth available for a particular purpose:
We freed time each week for a project meeting. The government has promised to free up more resources for education.
5 [VN to inf] to give sb the extra time to do sth that they want to do:
Winning the prize freed him to paint full-time.
adverb
without payment
1 (also free of charge) without payment:
Children under five travel free.
not trapped
2 away from or out of a position in which sb/sth is stuck or trapped:
The wagon broke free from the train.
see also SCOT-FREE
IDIOMS
make free with sth (disapproving) to use sth a lot, even though it does not belong to you:
Does she know that you're making free with her belongings?
run free (of an animal) to be allowed to go where it likes; not tied to anything or kept in a cage
more at WALK v.

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