free
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++free1 /friː/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective 1 FREE/COST NOTHINGno cost 不花钱的 something that is free does not cost you any money 免费的 Admission is free for children under 9. 九岁以下儿童免费入场。 All students are offered free accommodation. 所有学生都免费住宿。 Send for our free information pack for more details. 欲知详情，请来函索取我们的免费信息包。 There’s a special free gift with this month’s magazine. 本月杂志附赠特别礼物。2 FREE/COST NOTHINGnot a prisoner 不是囚犯 not held, tied up, or kept somewhere as a prisoner 自由的 He knew he could be free in as little as three years. 他知道只要再过三年他就能自由了。 With one leap he was free! 这一跳他就自由了！ He walked out of the courtroom a free man. 他从法庭走出来，成了自由人。 They have called on the government to set all political prisoners free. 他们呼吁政府释放所有政治犯。 He was found not guilty and walked free from the court. 他被判无罪，当庭释放。 The animals are allowed to run free in the park. 那些动物可以在公园里自由奔跑。 Hundreds of dogs roam free on the streets. 成百上千条狗在街上随意游荡。break/pull/struggle free She broke free from her attacker. 她挣脱了袭击她的人。3 FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANTnot controlled 未控制的 allowed to do or say whatever you want, or allowed to happen, without being controlled or restricted by anyone or anything 能随心所欲的，不受限制的 We had a free and open discussion about religion. 我们就宗教问题进行了一场自由、公开的讨论。free to do something Remember, you are free to say no. 记住，你是可以说不的。free from Newspapers today are entirely free from government control. 如今的报纸完全不受政府控制。 Women are struggling to break free from tradition. 妇女在努力挣脱传统的束缚。free of I longed to be free of my family. 我渴望从家庭中解脱出来。 He became president following the country’s first free elections last year. 去年该国首次举行自由选举之后，他当上了总统。 We would all support the principle of free speech. 我们全都支持言论自由的原则。 For the first time in its history, the country has a free press. 该国有史以来第一次有了新闻自由。 Patients are now allowed free access to their medical records. 病人现在可以随意查阅自己的病历。 The legislation will allow the free movement of goods through all the countries in Europe. 这项立法将允许货物在所有欧洲国家间自由流通。4 AVAILABLEnot busy 不忙的 if you are free, or have some free time, you have no work, and nothing else that you must do 空闲的，有空的 → available5 AVAILABLEnot being used 不在使用的 something that is free is available to use because it is not already being used 不在使用的，空着的6 NOT HAVEnot suffering 未受苦的 not suffering from something 不受…之苦的7 not containing STH 不含…的，没有…的 not containing something 不包含某物的8 tax 税 if something is free of tax, you do not have to pay tax on it 免〔税〕的9 feel free spokenLET/ALLOW used to tell someone that they can do something 随便，随意10 free and easy RELAXEDrelaxed, friendly, and without many rules 无拘束的，随便的；不拘礼节的11. free spirit INDEPENDENT PERSONsomeone who lives as they want to rather than in the way that society considers normal 我行我素的人12 give somebody a free hand/rein LET/ALLOWto let someone do whatever they want or need to do in a particular situation 让某人有自主权13. there’s no free lunch (also there’s no such thing as a free lunch) used to say that you should not expect to get something good without having to pay for it or make any effort 天下没有免费的午餐14 it’s a free country British English used, usually humorously, to say that you are or should be allowed to do something, after someone has said that you should not do it 这是个自由的国家〔一般作幽默用法〕15 get/take a free ride informalFREE/COST NOTHING to get something without paying for it or working for it, because other people are paying or working for it 白白捞到好处16 be free with something GENEROUSto be very generous with something 慷慨使用某物；随意给予某物17 make free with something informalUSE something to use something that belongs to someone else when you should not 擅自使用某物18 GRACEFULnot restricted 不受限制的 something that is free is not held, blocked, or restricted 无阻碍的；不受限制的19 chemicals 化学物 technicalHCE a free chemical substance is not combined with any other substance 游离的，自由的，单体的 THESAURUSfree something that is free does not cost you any money 免费的Parking is free after 6 pm. 下午6点之后停车免费。n‘How much is it to get into the concert?’ ‘Oh, I think it’s free.’They were giving away free tickets for the concert. 他们在发放免费的音乐会门票。nI’m saving these tokens to get a free poster.for nothing/for free without having to pay for something that you would normally have to pay for 〔尤指一般需付费时〕免费He offered to fix the car for nothing. 他主动提出免费修车。nFans were allowed into the stadium for nothing as a way of celebrating.Children under five can see the show for free. 五岁以下儿童免费观看表演。at no extra cost if a shop or company provides an additional service at no extra cost, they do it without asking you for any more money 不额外收费The shop will install the cooker for you at no extra cost. 商店会来安装炉具，不额外收费。nTours of the city are available from the hotel at no extra cost.complimentary [only before noun] free – use this about things that a company, theatre, hotel etc gives people 〔公司、剧院、酒店等〕馈赠的，免费供应的nKaren’s sister works at the New York Ballet and she’s managed to get us some complimentary tickets.Honeymooners receive a complimentary bottle of champagne in their hotel room. 蜜月夫妇可在酒店客房获赠一瓶香槟。be on the house if food or drinks are on the house, the owner of a bar or restaurant says you do not have to pay for them 由〔酒吧或餐厅〕付费,免费招待These drinks are on the house. 这些酒水免单。ngratis especially written without having to pay for somethingUsers will be able to listen to tracks (=songs)gratis.Examples from the Corpus
free• "How much is it to get into the concert?" "Oh, I think it's free."• Excuse me, is this seat free?• Is this chair free?• Maybe Bobby and I could have lunch again if he was free.• The room was warmer, quieter and draught free.• The clinic offers free advice on contraception.• Parking is free after 6 pm.• He was free again, after 10 long years in jail.• I had just left home, and was enjoying the feeling of being free and independent at last.• A free bus service will be provided from the parking lot at the train station.• Bulgaria's first free elections were held in 1990.• Send for free Endangered Desserts of the World poster!• a free exchange of information• Floyd investigated it soon after free fall had begun.• A member is entitled to a judgment that is free from any extraneous or ulterior motive.• I'll be free in about five minutes. Can you wait?• Are you free next weekend?• But they would've given up their vocation just to be free of you.• I'm free on Wednesday evening, if you want to go out to dinner then.• free oxygen• I'm saving these tokens to get a free poster.• Activists were calling for a free press and political reforms.• Many of you know that free range chickens are a very important part of Crediton.• Sometimes you realize how lucky you are to live in a free society.• In the class-action lawsuit unveiled Tuesday, doctors said such punishment would be a violation of their free speech rights.• All Americans have the right of free speech.• During "Golden Time", the pupils are free to choose the activity they would like to do.• Are you free to talk for a couple of minutes?free gift• Buy three skincare products and you can choose your super free gift.• We came back from the tour round the factory loaded down with free gifts.• Hassall Homes, of Wakefield, Yorkshire, is even offering the normal five percent deposit as a free gift.• Polished performer Making the most of your free gift.• The Karimojong happily accepted these unexpected free gifts but have not been too enthusiastic about development projects introduced after the famine.• Your Free Gift From Cachet. A perfume atomiser with every 50ml Eau de Toilette purchase.• They want photo stories, tales of holiday romances, horoscopes and advice columns as well as free gifts of make-up and jewellery.• And our free gift this month is a recipe leaflet showing you how to create delicious calorie-reduced meals.• Most banks offer students a free gift when they open a new account.• Last year Golf Monthly gave one of these pitch repairers as a free gift which I still use regularly.• There's also a free gift wrapping service on any purchase over £10.a free man• Ahab feels then that he must destroy these evil forces in order to survive as a free man.• Conde is now a free man.• It was argued that only property-owners had the economic independence necessary to be a free man.• Simpson, while his money and some future earnings will go to the plaintiffs, will live as a free man.• So last year, the court threw out the conviction and made Lanier a free man.• Surrounded by enslaved automatons, he was a free man.free to do something• We are not free to deface and destroy the natural world.• The rest of the day is free to do a second job, un-taxed.• She was free to do anything in the world.• There literally is everything under the sun, and you're free to do as much or as little as you want.• In the New World preachers felt free to encroach and poach in search of souls.• He would be free to pursue his own work, but must make himself available to students of composition.• By the age of twenty-four she was free to seek work outside the home, finding temporary positions as amanuensis and governess.• Members are free to work on their own chosen subject if they desire.free to do something• We are not free to deface and destroy the natural world.• The rest of the day is free to do a second job, un-taxed.• She was free to do anything in the world.• There literally is everything under the sun, and you're free to do as much or as little as you want.• In the New World preachers felt free to encroach and poach in search of souls.• He would be free to pursue his own work, but must make himself available to students of composition.• By the age of twenty-four she was free to seek work outside the home, finding temporary positions as amanuensis and governess.• Members are free to work on their own chosen subject if they desire.free hand• He loosened his tie with his free hand.• Knowing your legal rights in advance means you can negotiate with a free hand.• Lucia started backing up her books with a free hand.• The man grabbed the inside handle with his free hand and began to shake the windows.• With his free hand he was softly pushing back her hair, sending goosebumps scattering from Shiona's head to her toes.• They relied on Deaver to do this and gave him a remarkably free hand in arranging the details of their lives.• It turns them on and gives them a free hand to be as obnoxious as they want.• FitzAlan moved a pace to meet them, his free hand unfastening his cloak.free from/of• Builders had put the ramp in free of charge, but the council said it was too steep.• The video will be sent to you free of charge - just return it when you are finished.• Family meals, a compulsory ritual, were not entirely free of hazard.• They also would be freed from most government restraints on what and how much they plant.• Certainly, the free market is not free of problems.• Lifeguards at that time reported that the whale appeared lethargic and did not attempt to swim away once freed from the kelp.• Through their bodies, they became free of them.• The exception are aristocrats, who are served by a sufficient number of other people to be freed of this daily burden.free2 ●●● W3 verb (freed, freeing) [transitive] 1 FREE/NOT IN PRISONrelease 释放 to allow someone to leave prison or somewhere they have been kept as a prisoner 释放，使自由 SYN release2 not control 不控制 to allow someone to say and do what they want, after controlling or restricting them in the past 解放，使摆脱3 LOOSEallow SB/STH to move 允许某人/某物移动 to move someone or something so that they are no longer held, fixed, or trapped 解救，使解脱出来；解开 SYN release4 HELPstop SB suffering 使某人不再经受痛苦 to stop someone suffering from something by removing it 解除，去除5 make available 使可用 (also free something ↔ up)AVAILABLE to make something available so that it can be used 腾出；使…可用6 give SB more time 给某人更多时间 (also free somebody ↔ up) to give someone time to do something by taking away other jobs that they have to do 使能腾出时间→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
free• Many of these young offenders should have been freed a long time ago.• His supporters are demanding that he be freed from prison.• A strange light frightens her, and she screams to be freed from the room, falling unconscious when escape is denied.• Susan managed to free her right hand from her attacker with a violent twisting movement.• Kirk battled for eight hours to free himself from the wreckage.• He joined the resistance movement in order to free his country from the enemy.• The dolphins will be freed into the ocean once their injuries have healed.• The horse's eyes were filled with terror as it struggled to free itself from the deep, sucking mud.• Try freeing some memory by shutting down a few applications.• We're going to need some rope to help free the girl.• The kidnappers freed the last two hostages unharmed.• The allies arrived in Brussels on September 3rd and Antwerp was freed the next day.• She and her fellow students were told that their mission was to free the peasants from feudalism.• After being freed Tuesday, the whale swam toward the ocean.• Working from home will free up more time to spend with your family.free somebody from something• Treatment has freed Jenna from her drug addiction, allowing her to live a productive life.free somebody (up) to do something• It may be possible as a result of the pre-test to change certain questions from free response to a more structured format.• Funerals were free and open to all.• A free bus service to and from the venue is available from Belfast.• Refereee Kevin Breen ordered a Chester free kick to be retaken after 35 minutes when Coughlin failed to retreat 10 yards.• Money is available for new players and he has a free hand to change the backroom staff.• It meant the pound was set free to float to find its own value in world markets.• Moreover, the child is left free to listen to these songs when he likes.• Teachers are encouraged to make a free pre-visit to prepare for their visit.free3 ●●● S3 adverb 1 FREE/COST NOTHINGwithout payment 免费地2 LOOSEnot fixed or held in a particular place or position 不固定地；松脱地 → freely, scot-freeExamples from the Corpus
free• Why was this guy walking around free?• They will provide credit reports free to consumers once a year.for free• Gary told me he could do the ad for free.free4 noun [countable] British English informal a free transfer; the process by which a player moves from one football club to another, but the new club does not pay any money for him 自由转会 We got Kevin on a free from Manchester United. 凯文是从曼联队自由转会到我们这里的。-free /friː/ suffix [in adjectives and adverbs] NOT HAVEwithout something that you do not want 无…的 a trouble-free journey 无忧无虑的旅行 duty-free cigarettes 免税香烟 a salt-free diet 无盐饮食 They live in the house rent-free. 他们住这房子是免租金的。Examples from the Corpus
-free• a smoke-free restaurant• a trouble-free tripFrom Longman Business Dictionary-free-free /friː/ suffix without something, often something that you do not wantEarnings will be tax-free if the money remains on deposit for seven years.Heathrow Airport gets more money from duty-free sales than from landing fees.The casino will generate $10 million a year in risk-free income for the consortium.freefree1 /friː/ adjective1costing nothingFirst-class passengers will have four films to choose from, all of them free.Like pizza, Chinese food is more expensive than hamburgers and can bear the cost of free delivery.In order to attract new members, the gym decided to offer a week’s free trial.2no free lunch/no such thing as a free lunch used to say that something may seem to be free, but that in fact somebody must pay for itThe economic principle of ‘no free lunch’ applies — people get the services they pay for.There’s no such thing as a free lunch. If you receive ‘free’ shares, you’re bound to pay for them in other ways.3free of/from something without something, usually something that you do not wantThe economy remains slow but relatively free of inflation.The interest on savings bonds is free from state and local tax.Personal Equity Plans, which have a £6,000 investment limit each financial year, arefree of income tax and capital gains tax.4not restricted, limited, or controlledPrivatization is important, but the main condition for a market economy is free prices.free toThe company is free to impose whatever work rules and pay it chooses.freefree2 verb [transitive]1to remove laws, rules etcfree fromMore prices, including that of milk, will be freed from state control.2 (also free up)COMMERCE to make something available so that it can be usedFord said the sale of its heavy truck unit will free resources to concentrate on its light and medium truck business.The government have freed up several million dollars of federal money that was reserved for development but never spent.→ See Verb tablefreefree3 adverb without paymentSenior citizens can travel free at off-peak times.This service is available to the public free of charge.The downloads are available for free from their website.free1 adjective →10-19
→THESAURUS1free2 verbfree3 adverbfree4 noun-free suffixLDOCE OnlineChinese
→THESAURUS1free2 verbfree3 adverbfree4 noun-free suffixLDOCE OnlineChinese
any not does cost is money that Business Corpus something free you
free
free1 S1 W1 /friː/ 
adjective1. NO COST something that is free does not cost you any money:
Admission is free for children under 9.
All students are offered free accommodation.
Send for our free information pack for more details.
There’s a special free gift with this month’s magazine.
2. NOT A PRISONER not held, tied up, or kept somewhere as a prisoner:
He knew he could be free in as little as three years.
With one leap he was free__
He walked out of the courtroom a free man.
They have called on the government to set all political prisoners free.
He was found not guilty and walked free from the court.
The animals are allowed to run free in the park.
Hundreds of dogs roam free on the streets.
break/pull/struggle free
She broke free from her attacker.
3. NOT CONTROLLED allowed to do or say whatever you want, or allowed to happen, without being controlled or restricted by anyone or anything:
We had a free and open discussion about religion.
free to do something
Remember, you are free to say no.
free from
Newspapers today are entirely free from government control.
Women are struggling to break free from tradition.
free of
I longed to be free of my family.
He became president following the country’s first free elections last year.
We would all support the principle of free speech.
For the first time in its history, the country has a free press.
Patients are now allowed free access to their medical records.
The legislation will allow the free movement of goods through all the countries in Europe.
4. NOT BUSY if you are free, or have some free time, you have no work, and nothing else that you must do ⇨ available:
I’m free next weekend.
free for
Are you free for lunch tomorrow?
free to do something
At last I was free to concentrate on my own research.
a free day/morning/half-hour etc
I haven’t got a free day this week.
Children these days have very little free time.
5. NOT BEING USED something that is free is available to use because it is not already being used:
Is this seat free?
I’m afraid we don’t have any free tables this evening.
He used his free hand to open the door.
6. NOT SUFFERING not suffering from something
free of
At last she was free of pain.
free from
A lot of the patients are now free from symptoms.
pain-free/trouble-free etc
a stress-free life
7. NOT CONTAINING SOMETHING not containing something
free from/of
All our drinks are free from artificial colourings.
fat-free/dairy-free etc
a fat-free yoghurt
8. TAX if something is free of tax, you do not have to pay tax on it
free of
This income should be free of tax.
tax-free/duty-free etc
tax-free earnings
an opportunity to buy duty-free goods
9. feel free spoken used to tell someone that they can do something:
Feel free to ask questions.
‘Can I use your bathroom?’ ‘Yes, feel free.’
10. free and easy relaxed, friendly, and without many rules:
I knew that life wasn’t going to be so free and easy now.
the free and easy atmosphere of university life
11. free spirit someone who lives as they want to rather than in the way that society considers normal
12. give somebody a free hand/rein to let someone do whatever they want or need to do in a particular situation:
The producer was given a free rein with the script.
13. there’s no free lunch (also there’s no such thing as a free lunch) used to say that you should not expect to get something good without having to pay for it or make any effort
14. it’s a free country British English used, usually humorously, to say that you are or should be allowed to do something, after someone has said that you should not do it:
It’s a free country. You can’t stop me.
15. get/take a free ride informal to get something without paying for it or working for it, because other people are paying or working for it:
They are encouraging all workers to join the union rather than just taking a free ride on those who do join.
16. be free with something to be very generous with something:
He seems to be very free with other people’s money.
She is always free with her advice.
17. make free with something informal to use something that belongs to someone else when you should not:
I knew that they had been making free with our food.
18. NOT RESTRICTED something that is free is not held, blocked, or restricted:
We opened both doors to allow a free flow of air through the building.
19. CHEMICALS technical a free chemical substance is not combined with any other substance:
the amount of free oxygen in the atmosphere
▪ free something that is free does not cost you any money: Parking is free after 6 pm. | ‘How much is it to get into the concert?’ ‘Oh, I think it’s free.’ | They were giving away free tickets for the concert. | I’m saving these tokens to get a free poster.
▪for nothing/for free without having to pay for something that you would normally have to pay for: He offered to fix the car for nothing. | Fans were allowed into the stadium for nothing as a way of celebrating. | Children under five can see the show for free.
▪at no extra cost if a shop or company provides an additional service at no extra cost, they do it without asking you for any more money: The shop will install the cooker for you at no extra cost. | Tours of the city are available from the hotel at no extra cost.
▪complimentary [only before noun] free – use this about things that a company, theatre, hotel etc gives people: Karen’s sister works at the New York Ballet and she’s managed to get us some complimentary tickets. | Honeymooners receive a complimentary bottle of champagne in their hotel room.
▪be on the house if food or drinks are on the house, the owner of a bar or restaurant says you do not have to pay for them: These drinks are on the house.
▪gratis especially written without having to pay for something: Users will be able to listen to tracks (=songs)gratis.
free2 S3 W3 verb (past tense and past participle freed, present participle freeing) [transitive]1. RELEASE to allow someone to leave prison or somewhere they have been kept as a prisoner
SYN release:
He expects to be freed quite soon.
The terrorists have at last agreed to free the hostages.
free somebody from something
She was freed from prison last week.
2. NOT CONTROL to allow someone to say and do what they want, after controlling or restricting them in the past
free somebody from/of something
The press has now been freed from political control.
She longed to be freed of her responsibilities.
Art frees the imagination.
3. ALLOW SOMEBODY/SOMETHING TO MOVE to move someone or something so that they are no longer held, fixed, or trapped
SYN release:
He struggled to free himself, but the ropes were too tight.
I couldn’t free the safety catch.
free somebody/something from something
All the victims have now been freed from the wreckage.
4. STOP SOMEBODY SUFFERING to stop someone suffering from something by removing it
free somebody from something
new drugs that can free people from pain
At last the country has been freed from its enormous debts.
5. MAKE AVAILABLE (also free something ↔ up) to make something available so that it can be used:
I need to free up some of the disk space on my computer.
This should free some money for investment.
6. GIVE SOMEBODY MORE TIME (also free somebody ↔ up) to give someone time to do something by taking away other jobs that they have to do
free somebody (up) to do something
Taking away the burden of administration will free teachers to concentrate on teaching.
We have freed up some staff to deal with the backlog of work.
free3 adverb1. without payment:
Children under four can travel free.
You can get advice free from your local library.
for free
He offered to do the work for free.
All these services are available to the public free of charge.
2. not fixed or held in a particular place or position:
The ropes were now hanging free.
A gold chain swung free around his neck.
⇨ freely, scot-free
free4 noun [countable] British English informal
a FREE TRANSFER; the process by which a player moves from one football club to another, but the new club does not pay any money for him:
We got Kevin on a free from Manchester United.
| I |
adjective1. NO COST something that is free does not cost you any money: 2. NOT A PRISONER not held, tied up, or kept somewhere as a prisoner:
break/pull/struggle free
3. NOT CONTROLLED allowed to do or say whatever you want, or allowed to happen, without being controlled or restricted by anyone or anything:
free to do something
free from
free of
4. NOT BUSY if you are free, or have some free time, you have no work, and nothing else that you must do ⇨ available:
free for
free to do something
a free day/morning/half-hour etc
5. NOT BEING USED something that is free is available to use because it is not already being used:
6. NOT SUFFERING not suffering from something
free of
free from
pain-free/trouble-free etc
7. NOT CONTAINING SOMETHING not containing something
free from/of
fat-free/dairy-free etc
8. TAX if something is free of tax, you do not have to pay tax on it
free of
tax-free/duty-free etc
9. feel free spoken used to tell someone that they can do something:
10. free and easy relaxed, friendly, and without many rules:
11. free spirit someone who lives as they want to rather than in the way that society considers normal
12. give somebody a free hand/rein to let someone do whatever they want or need to do in a particular situation:
13. there’s no free lunch (also there’s no such thing as a free lunch) used to say that you should not expect to get something good without having to pay for it or make any effort
14. it’s a free country British English used, usually humorously, to say that you are or should be allowed to do something, after someone has said that you should not do it:
15. get/take a free ride informal to get something without paying for it or working for it, because other people are paying or working for it:
16. be free with something to be very generous with something:
17. make free with something informal to use something that belongs to someone else when you should not:
18. NOT RESTRICTED something that is free is not held, blocked, or restricted:
19. CHEMICALS technical a free chemical substance is not combined with any other substance:
| THESAURUS |
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| II |
verb (past tense and past participle freed, present participle freeing) [transitive]1. RELEASE to allow someone to leave prison or somewhere they have been kept as a prisoner SYN release:
free somebody from something
2. NOT CONTROL to allow someone to say and do what they want, after controlling or restricting them in the past
free somebody from/of something
3. ALLOW SOMEBODY/SOMETHING TO MOVE to move someone or something so that they are no longer held, fixed, or trapped
SYN release:
free somebody/something from something
4. STOP SOMEBODY SUFFERING to stop someone suffering from something by removing it
free somebody from something
5. MAKE AVAILABLE (also free something ↔ up) to make something available so that it can be used:
6. GIVE SOMEBODY MORE TIME (also free somebody ↔ up) to give someone time to do something by taking away other jobs that they have to do
free somebody (up) to do something
| III |
adverb1. without payment: for free
2. not fixed or held in a particular place or position:
⇨ freely, scot-free
| IV |
noun [countable] British English informala FREE TRANSFER; the process by which a player moves from one football club to another, but the new club does not pay any money for him:
often
