2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N ] When prisoners or slaves are set free or escape, they gain their freedom . □ …an agreement under which all hostages and detainees would gain their freedom.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Freedom from something you do not want means not being affected by it. □ [+ from ] …all the freedom from pain that medicine could provide. □ [+ from ] …freedom from government control.
4 N‑SING The freedom of a particular city is a special honour which is given to a famous person who is connected with that city, or to someone who has performed some special service for the city.
free |dom fight|er (freedom fighters ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a freedom fighter , you mean that they belong to a group that is trying to change the government of their country using violent methods, and you agree with or approve of this. [APPROVAL ]
free e n|ter|prise N‑UNCOUNT Free enterprise is an economic system in which businesses compete for profit without much government control. [BUSINESS ]
free fa ll (free falls ) also free-fall
1 N‑VAR [oft into/in N ] If the value or price of something goes into free fall , it starts to fall uncontrollably. [JOURNALISM ] □ Sterling went into free fall. □ The price did a free fall.
2 N‑UNCOUNT In parachuting, free fall is the part of the jump before the parachute opens.
free -floa ting ADJ [ADJ n] Free-floating things or people are able to move freely and are not controlled or directed by anything. □ …a system of free-floating exchange rates.
Free|fone /friː foʊn/ also freefone , freephone N‑UNCOUNT [N n] A Freefone telephone number is one which you can dial without having to pay for the call. [BRIT , TRADEMARK ] □ …the Freefone emergency housing helpline. in AM, use toll-free
free -for-a ll (free-for-alls )
1 N‑SING A free-for-all is a situation in which several people or groups are trying to get something for themselves and there are no controls on how they do it.
2 N‑COUNT A free-for-all is a disorganized fight or argument which lots of people join in.
free form also free-form ADJ [ADJ n] A free form work of art or piece of music has not been created according to a standard style or convention. □ …free-form jazz.
free|hand /friː hænd/ ADJ [ADJ n] A freehand drawing is drawn without using instruments such as a ruler or a pair of compasses. □ …freehand sketches. ● ADV [ADV after v] Freehand is also an adverb. □ Use a template or stencil or simply do it freehand.
free|hold /friː hoʊld/ (freeholds )
1 N‑VAR If you have the freehold of a building or piece of land, it is yours for life and there are no conditions regarding your ownership. □ People owning leasehold homes will be given a new right to buy the freehold of their property.
2 ADJ If a building or piece of land is freehold , you can own it for life. □ The property register will also say whether the property is freehold or leasehold.
free|holder /friː hoʊldə r / (freeholders ) N‑COUNT A freeholder is someone who owns the freehold to a particular piece of land.
free house (free houses ) N‑COUNT In Britain, a free house is a pub which is not owned by a particular company and so can sell whatever beers it chooses.
free ki ck (free kicks ) N‑COUNT In a game of football, when there is a free kick , the ball is given to a member of one side to kick because a member of the other side has broken a rule.
free|lance /friː lɑːns, -læns/ (freelances , freelancing , freelanced )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone who does freelance work or who is, for example, a freelance journalist or photographer is not employed by one organization, but is paid for each piece of work they do by the organization they do it for. [BUSINESS ] □ Michael Cross is a freelance journalist. □ She had a baby and decided to go freelance. ● ADV [ADV after v] Freelance is also an adverb. □ He is now working freelance from his home in Hampshire.
2 N‑COUNT A freelance is the same as a freelancer .
3 VERB If you freelance , you do freelance work. □ [V + as ] She has freelanced as a writer and researcher. [Also V ]
free|lancer /friː lɑːnsə r , -læns-/ (freelancers ) N‑COUNT A freelancer is someone who does freelance work.
free|loader /friː loʊdə r / (freeloaders ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a freeloader , you disapprove of them because they take advantage of other people's kindness, for example by accepting food or accommodation from them, without giving anything in return. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
free lo ve N‑UNCOUNT A belief in free love is the belief that it is acceptable and good to have sexual relationships without marrying, often several relationships at the same time. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
free|ly /friː li/
1 ADV [ADV after v, ADV adj] Freely means many times or in large quantities. □ We have referred freely to his ideas. □ …the United States, where consumer goods are freely available.
2 ADV [ADV after v] If you can talk freely , you can talk without needing to be careful about what you say. □ She wondered whether he had someone to whom he could talk freely.
3 ADV [ADV with v] If someone gives or does something freely , they give or do it willingly, without being ordered or forced to do it. □ Danny shared his knowledge freely with anyone interested. □ Williams freely admits he lives for racing.
4 ADV [ADV after v] If something or someone moves freely , they move easily and smoothly, without any obstacles or resistance. □ You must allow the clubhead to swing freely.