(1) 自由(state or fact of being free) [U]：gain/enjoy/buy/win one's～获得/享受/购买/赢得自由;～fighter自由战士;〖同〗liberation;〖反〗dependence;

(2) 1) (行动，言论的)自由权(power to do，say，think，or write whatever one wants to) [U，C] [N(of)]：～of speech/religion/worship/thought言论/宗教/礼拜/思想的自由权;political/press～政治/出版自由;the～s of the trade-union movement工会运动的自由;the erosion of basic～s对基本自由权利的侵害;2) 随意，自由(easy of movement) [U][N(of)，N+to-inf]：～of action/choice/decision/movement 行动/选择/决定/活动的自由;The government has the～to levy taxes. 政府有权征税。a skirt whose shortness gives～for long strides 裙子的长短程度不妨碍大步行走;

(3)不受某事物影响的状态(condition or state of being away from or without sth unpleasant) [U][N(from)]：～from fear/pain/hunger/anxiety/vulgarity 无恐惧/痛苦/饥饿/焦虑/粗野行为;～from want/starvation/taxation摆脱贫困/无饥饿/ 免税;

(4) 随意使用(the use of or access to sth) [C，the～][N(to)]：give sb the～of one's house/one's belongings/one's library 让某人随意使用自己的房子/物品/图书馆;give sb his～同意与某人离婚;give sb/receive the～of the city/the town 给予/接受荣誉市民权;

←free adj;

【辨异】freedom与independence和liberty均指不受过分的限制，因而有机会行使自己的权利和职权。freedom强调有行使自己的权利、职权、要求等的机会，例如：freedom of speech or conscience (言论或凭良知行事的自由);freedom of movement (行动的自由)。independence隐含不仅没有限制，而且还有能力独立行事，不受任何别的东西的约束，如：Independence of thought promotes invention. (独立思考可以促进发明。) liberty通常可与freedom互换使用，但有时也用于暗示不适当的行为自由，如：The teacher took liberties with the text. (教师全然不顾课文。)