VOLUNTEER Definition & Meaning

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volunteer

[ vol-uhn-teer ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person who voluntarily offers to perform a service or other undertaking.
a person who performs a service willingly and without pay.
Military. a person who enters the service voluntarily rather than through conscription or draft, especially for special or temporary service rather than as a member of the regular or permanent army.
Law.
1. a person whose actions are not founded on any legal obligation so to act.
2. a person who steps into a matter that does not concern them, such as a person who pays the debt of another where they are neither legally nor morally bound to do so and has no interest to protect in making the payment.
Agriculture. Also volunteer plant. a plant that springs up spontaneously, without being seeded, planted, or cultivated by a person:
We didn't plant any watermelons this year, but look at all the volunteers from last year's crop.
Volunteer. a native or inhabitant of Tennessee (used as a nickname).

adjective

of, relating to, or being a person who voluntarily offers to do something:
a volunteer fireman.
Agriculture. growing without being seeded, planted, or cultivated by a person; springing up spontaneously:
volunteer tomatoes.

verb (used without object)

to offer oneself for some service or undertaking.
to enter service or enlist voluntarily.

verb (used with object)

to offer (oneself or one's services) for some undertaking or purpose.
to give, bestow, or perform voluntarily:
to volunteer a song.
to say, tell, or communicate voluntarily:
to volunteer an explanation.
to promise the services of (someone) without having asked if it is something they actually can or want to do:
He volunteered me to sand and paint the bottom of the boat, and I don’t have the slightest interest in sanding, painting, or boating.

volunteer

/ ˌ��ɒ��ə��ˈ��ɪə /

noun

1. a person who performs or offers to perform voluntary service
2. ( as modifier )
  volunteer advice
  a volunteer system
a person who freely undertakes military service, esp temporary or special service
law
1. a person who does some act or enters into a transaction without being under any legal obligation to do so and without being promised any remuneration for his services
2. property law a person to whom property is transferred without his giving any valuable consideration in return, as a legatee under a will
1. a plant that grows from seed that has not been deliberately sown
2. ( as modifier )
  a volunteer plant

verb

to offer (oneself or one's services) for an undertaking by choice and without request or obligation
tr to perform, give, or communicate voluntarily
to volunteer help
to volunteer a speech
intr to enlist voluntarily for military service

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��·��Ǳ�·�ܲ�·�ٱ�� noun verb
�ܲ�·��Ǳ�·�ܲ�·�ٱ��·��Բ� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of volunteer¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from French volontaire, from Latin ��Ǳ��ܲԳ��ܲ� voluntary, with -eer for French -aire

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of volunteer¹

C17: from French volontaire, from Latin ��Ǳ��ܲԳ��ܲ� willing; see voluntary

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Example Sentences

“I’ve seen the daily magic that goes down at a place like this,” said Julian Samuels, a longtime volunteer at Black Image Center, who called its offerings “really rare in L.A.”

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“I’m going to volunteer with the office for a week. Then, I’m going to find the most challenging cases I can find — murder, death penalty.”

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Rescue volunteers who were forced to dig through the rubble with their bare hands have run out of body bags for those they couldn't save.

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That eaglet was named Misty by Friends of Big Bear Valley in honor of Kathi Misterly, a dedicated volunteer who lost her life to cancer, the organization said.

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Local media in Sagaing, the earthquake's epicentre, have reported restrictions imposed by military authorities that require organisations to submit lists of volunteers and items that they want to bring into the area.

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