free form

noun

a morpheme that can occur alone

• Syn: ↑free morpheme

• Hypernyms: ↑morpheme

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noun

: an asymmetrical biomorphic and usually nonrectilinear shape used in works of art or of design especially of the 20th century and found typically in the works of the 20th century painters Hans Arp and Joan Miró

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1. a shape having an irregular contour, chiefly used in nonrepresentational art and industrial design.

2. Ling. a linguistic form that can occur by itself, as fire, book, or run. Cf. bound form.

[1945-50]

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free form,

1. a linguistic form which occurs alone or independently, as distinguished from a bound form. Examples: cold, street, eaten.

2. a form not having a conventional or prescribed structure or shape, such as one in music, art, or design: »

a free form that predates the Mozart fantasias (New York Times).

–free´-form´, adjective.

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ˈfree form 7 [free form] (also ˌfree ˈmorpheme) noun (linguistics)

a unit of language that can be used by itself

•

The plural ‘s’ is not a free form, as it must always be attached to a noun.

See also: ↑free morpheme