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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary free·dom DATE before 12th century 1. the quality or state of being free: as a. the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action b. liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independence c. the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous freedom from care d. ease , facility spoke the language with freedom e. the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken answered with freedom f. improper familiarity g. boldness of conception or execution h. unrestricted use gave him the freedom of their home 2. a. a political right b. franchise , privilege Synonyms. freedom , liberty , license mean the power or condition of acting without compulsion. freedom has a broad range of application from total absence of restraint to merely a sense of not being unduly hampered or frustrated freedom of the press liberty suggests release from former restraint or compulsion the released prisoner had difficulty adjusting to his new liberty license implies freedom specially granted or conceded and may connote an abuse of freedom freedom without responsibility may degenerate into license English Etymology freedom O.E. freodom (see free). Freedom-rider recorded 1961, in ref. to civil rights activists in U.S. trying to integrate bus lines. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ freedom free·dom / 5fri:dEm / noun1. [U, C] ~ (of sth) the right to do or say what you want without anyone stopping you (指权利)自由: freedom of speech / thought / expression / worship 言论/思想/表达/信仰自由 a threat to press / academic, etc. freedom 对新闻、学术等自由的威胁 rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution 宪法保障的权利和自由 2. [U, sing.] ~ (of sth) | ~ (to do sth) the state of being able to do what you want, without anything stopping you (指状态)自由: freedom of action / choice 行动/选择自由 complete freedom to do as you wish 按照自己意愿行事的绝对自由 Thanks to the automobile, Americans soon had a freedom of movement previously unknown. 由于有了汽车,美国人很快就获得了前所未有的行动自由。 3. [U] the state of not being a prisoner or slave 自由民地位(不是囚犯或奴隶): He finally won his freedom after twenty years in jail. 他蹲了二十年监狱以后终于获得了自由。 4. [U] ~ from sth the state of not being affected by the thing mentioned 没有…的情况；不受…影响的状态: freedom from fear / pain / hunger, etc. 免于恐惧、痛苦、饥饿等 5. [sing.] the ~ of sth permission to use sth without restriction 自由使用权: I was given the freedom of the whole house. 我获得全座房子的自由使用权。 IDIOMS ▪ the freedom of the 'city (in Britain) an honour that is given to sb by a city as a reward for work they have done (英国)荣誉市民称号 ⇨ see also freeman ⇨ more at manoeuvre n. Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English freedom noun ADJ. complete, full, maximum, perfect, total | considerable, great The new syllabus allows students greater freedom of choice. | comparative, relative | basic, fundamental Living without war is a fundamental freedom. | individual, personal Individual freedom should be balanced against the rights of the community. | new-found When she lost her job, she at first relished her new-found freedom. | academic, artistic, creative, economic, intellectual, political, press, religious, sexual Without academic freedom, we cannot do any research. QUANT. measure Teachers can exercise a measure of freedom in their choice of materials. VERB + FREEDOM enjoy, have Publishers here enjoy comparative freedom to publish what they want. | enjoy, relish I was enjoying the freedom of not having to go to work. | exercise | achieve, gain, obtain, secure, win The women have won many new freedoms for themselves. | maintain, retain | give up, lose, surrender As Mike saw it, marriage would mean giving up his freedom. | cost sb His inability to resist temptation would eventually cost him his freedom. | allow sb, give sb, permit sb | curtail, inhibit, reduce, restrict, threaten I don't want to curtail my daughter's freedom. Our freedom was threatened by press censorship. PREP. ~ from freedom from fear and pain | ~ in Branch managers have considerable freedom in running their offices. | ~ of The Official Secrets Act was amended to allow greater freedom of information. PHRASES freedom of choice, freedom of expression/speech, freedom of movement, freedom of the press Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition n. Function: noun the power or condition of acting without compulsion FF1C;freedomof the pressFF1E; Synonyms: liberty, license Related Words: exemption, immunity; prerogative, privilege, right; compass, latitude, scope, sweep Contrasted Words: coercion, compulsion, constraint; restraint Antonyms: necessity Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged free·dom \ˈfrēdəm\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English fredom, from Old English frēodōm, from frēo free + -dōm -dom 1. : the quality or state of being free: as a. : the quality or state of not being coerced or constrained by fate, necessity, or circumstances in one's choices or actions < the philosophical implications of the play theory are found in its opposition of freedom and necessity, of spontaneity and order — John Dewey > b. (1) : the status of the will as an uncaused cause of human actions : the absence of antecedent causal determination of human decisions (2) : self-realization or spiritual self-fulfillment that is not incompatible with the existence of natural causes of the will-act : self-determination < the Stoic conception of freedom is one of rational self-determination; free acts are those which are in conformity with a man's rational nature and, ultimately, with the rational nature of the universe — Frank Thilly > c. (1) : exemption or liberation from slavery, imprisonment, or restraint or from the undue, arbitrary, or despotic power and control of another : liberty , independence (2) : the ability or capacity to act without undue hindrance or restraint d. : the quality or state of being exempt or released < freedom from care > < freedom from annoyance > < freedom from taxes > e. : generosity , largeness , magnanimity < betray him and announce either the freedom and nobility of his soul or its meanness and limitation — Laurence Binyon > f. (1) : ease , facility < able to speak the foreign language with freedom > (2) : the quality or state of running or operating smoothly and without impediment < the machine ran with greater freedom after greasing > g. : the quality of being frank, open, unreserved, or outspoken h. : improper familiarity : undue social liberty : violation of the strict dictates of decorum or decency i. : boldness or vigor of conception or execution j. : unrestricted use < give a friend the freedom of the house > < gave the visitor the freedom of the club > 2. : right , privilege , franchise < follow the … political line as a price for their limited freedom to preach and teach — T.P.Whitney > as a. : the right of participating as a member or a citizen often conferred as a mark of honorary distinction upon one who is not a member or a citizen b. : a right or liberty guaranteed by a constitution or fundamental law < formulated in their first civil contract certain freedoms as essential to a happy people > or granted by one in authority < given the freedom to enter without showing his pass > or assured by convention or popular sentiment < no one cared if the beloved old man was allowed a freedomdenied to law-abiding citizens > c. : the right or privilege of availing oneself of speech or of acting according to the dictates of conscience or utilizing, supporting, and acting according to one's own view of religion without undue restraints or within reasonably formulated and legally specified limits 3. : a share of common land formerly allotted in Scotland to a freeman |
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