free

/fri:/ adjective, adverb

1. not costing any money

● I have been given a free ticket to the exhibition.

● The price includes free delivery.

● All goods in the store are delivered free.

● A catalogue will be sent free on request.

♦ free alongside ship referring to a price that includes all costs up to delivery of goods next to the ship on the quay

♦ free docks referring to a price that includes all costs up to delivery of goods to the docks

♦ free of charge with no payment to be made

♦ free on quay referring to a price that includes all costs up to delivery of goods next to the ship on the quay

♦ free overboard or free overside referring to a price that includes all costs up to arrival of the ship at a port

2. with no restrictions

♦ free of tax with no tax having to be paid

● interest is paid free of tax

♦ free of duty with no duty to be paid

● to import wine free of duty

3. not busy or not occupied

● Are there any free tables in the restaurant?

● I shall be free in a few minutes.

● The chairman always keeps Friday afternoon free for a game of bridge.

■ verb

to make something available or easy

● The government’s decision has freed millions of pounds for investment.

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‘American business as a whole is increasingly free from heavy dependence on manufacturing’ [Sunday Times]