/fri:; fri/
adj (freer / fri:E(r); `friL/, freest / fri:Ist;`friIst/)
1 (a) (of a person) not a slave or prisoner; allowed to move where one wants; having physical freedom （指人）（非奴隶或囚犯）自由的, 有人身自由的, 行动自由的
*After ten years in prison, he was a free man again. 他坐了十年监狱, 又成了自由人.
* The convicts were pardoned and set free. 那些囚犯获赦释放.
* The driver had to be cut free from the wreckage of his car. 破开了汽车残骸才把司机解救出来.
(b) (of an animal) not kept in a cage or tied up; able to move at will （指动物）不关在笼子里的, 不被栓住的, 可任意行动的
*In nature, all animals are wild and free. 在自然界, 一切动物都是野生的, 自由自在的.
* The dog was chained, so how did it get free? 狗拴着链子, 是怎么挣脱开的呢?
* An escaped tiger is roaming free in the town. 有一只老虎跑出, 正在城里东逃西窜.
2 not fixed or held down; loose 不固定的; 不受牵制的; 松弛的
*the free end of the rope 绳索松着的一端
* Let the rope run free. 把绳子放开.
* One of the wheels of the cart has worked (itself) free. 马车的一个轮子松了.
3 clear; not blocked; unrestricted 通畅的; 无阻碍的; 不受限制的; 不受约束的
*Is the way/passage free? 道路[通道]畅通吗?
* A free flow of water came from the pipe. 水从管道里通畅地流了出来.
* The streets have been swept free of leaves. 街上的落叶已打扫乾净.
4 (of a country, its citizens and institutions) not controlled by a foreign government or the state itself （指国家及其公民和机关）不受外国政府或本国控制的, 自主的, 自由的
*This is a free country I can say what I like. 这是个自由的国家--我爱说什么就可以说什么.
* We might have a free press, but that doesn't mean all reporting is true and accurate. 我们即使有新闻自由, 也并不意味着一切报道都真实可信、准确无误.
5 ~ (to do sth) not controlled or restricted (by rules or conventions); permitted to do sth 不受（规章或习俗）控制的, 许可做某事物的
*free movement of workers within the European Community 在欧洲共同体内部工人的自由流动
* free access to secret information 对机密资料的自由接触
* You are free to come and go as you please. 你来去自便.
* She's a free spirit, ie a person not hampered by convention. 她是个无拘无束的人.
6 [pred 作表语] ~ from/of sth
(a) not harmed by sth dangerous; not spoilt by sth unpleasant 不受某危险事物伤害; 不受某不愉快事物影响
*free from harm, prejudice, pain 不受伤害、无偏见、无痛苦
* free of weeds, contamination, pollution, etc 无杂草、传染、污染等.
(b) not subject to certain rules, etc; unrestricted by sth 不受某规章等约束的; 不受某事物阻碍的
*a holiday free from all responsibilities 摆脱一切责任的假期.
7 (a) costing nothing 免费的
*free tickets for the theatre 免费的戏票
* Admission is free. 免费入场.
* a free sample 免费样品.
(b) [pred 作表语] ~ (of sth) not including, or not requiring, a specified payment, usu of tax or duty 免税
*a payment of
30000 free of tax 30000英镑的免税付款
* Delivery is free (of charge) if goods are paid for in advance. 如预付货款就可免费送货.
8 (a) (of a place) not occupied or being used; (of a time) not engaged or booked （指地方或时间）未占用的, 空着的, 闲着的
*Is that seat free? 那座位有人吗?
* The bathroom's free now. 洗澡间现在空着.
* Is there a time when the conference room is free? 会议室有空着的时候吗?
* Friday afternoons are left free for revision. 留出星期五下午的时间做复习.
(b) (of a person) without engagements or things to do; not busy （指人）有空的, 闲着的
*I'm usually free in the afternoon. 我通常下午有空.
* Are you free for lunch? 你有空儿去吃午饭吗?
9 [pred 作表语] ~ with sth giving sth easily and readily; generous with sth 大方; 慷慨
*He is very free with his time, ie gives it willingly. 他毫不吝惜自己的时间.
* He's a bit too free with his compliments. 他有点太爱恭维人.
10 (derog 贬) uncontrolled, often to the point of rudeness; too familiar 不约束的; 放肆的; 过于亲密的
*I don't like him he is too free in his language and manner. 我不喜欢他--他的言行太放肆.
11 (of a translation) expressing the meaning of the original loosely, not exactly （指译文）不拘泥原文的, 不确切的. Cf 参看 literal 1a.
12 (chemistry 化) not combined with another element 未与其他元素化合的; 游离的
*free hydrogen 游离氢.
13 (idm 习语) feel free => feel1. (get sth) for `free without payment being required; for nothing 不要钱的; 白给的
*I got this ticket for free from sb who didn't want it. 我这张票没花钱, 是别人不要的. free and `easy informal; relaxed 不拘束的; 不拘礼的; 轻松的
*The atmosphere in the office is quite free and easy. 办公室的气氛很轻松. free on `board/`rail (of goods) without charge for delivery to a ship/train （指货物）船[火车]上交货（价格）. get, have, etc a free `hand get, have, etc permission or an opportunity to do what one chooses and make one's own decisions, esp in a job 有自主权（尤指工作上）
*My boss has given me a free hand in deciding which outside contractor to use. 老板已经给了我自主权, 让我决定用哪家承包商. give, allow, etc free `play/`rein to sb/sth give, etc complete freedom of movement or expression to sb/sth 给予...某人[某事物]行动或表达上的充分自由
*In this picture the artist certainly allowed his imagination free rein. 艺术家在这幅画里任其想像力尽情奔驰. have one's hands free/tied => hand1. make sb free of sth allow sb full use or enjoyment of sth 允许某人充分利用或享受某物; 随意使用
*He kindly made me free of his library for my research. 他热情地让我随意使用他的书房做研究工作. of one's own free will without being ordered or forced 非强迫的; 自愿的
*I came here of my own free will. 我是自愿到这里来的.

adv
1 without cost or payment; freely 无偿地; 免费地
*Children under five usually travel free on trains. 五岁以下的儿童乘火车通常免费.
2 (idm 习语) make free with sb/sth treat sb/sth casually and without proper respect; use sth as if it belongs to oneself 对待某人[某事物]随便而不尊重; 任意使用他人之物
*He made free with all his girl-friend's money. 他随便花女朋友的钱.

/fri:; fri/
v (pt, pp freed / fri:d; frid/)
1 [Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sth (from sth) make (sb/sth) free; release or liberate 使（某人[某物]）自由; 释放; 解放
*free the prisoner 释放囚犯
* free an animal from a trap 把动物从陷阱中放出来.
2 [Tn.pr] ~ sb/sth of/from sth take away sth unpleasant, unwanted, etc from sb/sth; rid sb/ sth of sth 使令人不快的、不需要的一类事物离开某人[某事物]; 使某人[某事物]摆脱某事物
*Relaxation exercises can free your body of tension. 放松运动可以松缓身体的紧张.
* Try to free yourself from all prejudices.尽量消除一切偏见.
3 [Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sb/sth (from sth)loosen sb/sth from sth that is preventing movement; disentangle or extricate sb/sth 使某人[某事物]摆脱妨碍活动的事物; 摆脱或脱离某人[某事物]
*It took hours to free the victims (from the collapsed building). 用了很长时间才把遇难者（从倒塌的建筑物中）解救出来.
* Can you free the propeller from the weeds? 你能把螺旋桨上的草除掉吗?
4 [Tn.pr, Cn.t] ~ sb/sth for sth make sb/sth available for (a purpose or an activity) 使某人[某物]可用于（某一目的或活动）
*The government intends to free more resources for educational purposes. 政府想把更多的资源用于教育方面.
* Retiring early from his job freed him to join several local clubs. 他早早退休, 摆脱了工作的羁绊而加入了当地的几个俱乐部.