| Library / English Dictionary |
VOLUNTARY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Composition (often improvised) for a solo instrument (especially solo organ) and not a regular part of a religious service or musical performance
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("voluntary" is a kind of...):
solo (a musical composition for one voice or instrument (with or without accompaniment))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "voluntary"):
postlude (a voluntary played at the end of a religious service)
Sense 2
Meaning:
(military) a person who freely enlists for service
Synonyms:
military volunteer; voluntary; volunteer
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("voluntary" is a kind of...):
man; military man; military personnel; serviceman (someone who serves in the armed forces; a member of a military force)
Domain category:
armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)
Derivation:
voluntary (of your own free will or design; done by choice; not forced or compelled)
volunteer (do volunteer work)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Of your own free will or design; done by choice; not forced or compelled
Example:
a voluntary confession
Classified under:
Similar:
wilful; willful (done by design)
freewill (done of your own accord)
self-imposed (voluntarily assumed or endured)
uncoerced; unforced; willing (not brought about by coercion or force)
unpaid; volunteer (without payment)
Also:
conscious (knowing and perceiving; having awareness of surroundings and sensations and thoughts)
intended (resulting from one's intentions)
willing (disposed or inclined toward)
Antonym:
involuntary (not subject to the control of the will)
Derivation:
voluntary ((military) a person who freely enlists for service)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Controlled by individual volition
Example:
voluntary muscles
Classified under:
Domain category:
physiology (the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms)
Antonym:
involuntary (controlled by the autonomic nervous system; without conscious control)
Context examples:
A living organism that has membranous cell walls, requires oxygen and organic foods, and is capable of voluntary movement, as distinguished from a plant or mineral.
(Animal, NCI Thesaurus)
A disorder characterized by lack of coordination of muscle movements resulting in the impairment or inability to perform voluntary activities.
(Ataxia, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)
Voluntary cooperation of the patient in following a prescribed regimen.
(Compliance, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)
A progressive disorder of the nervous system marked by muscle tremors, muscle rigidity, decreased mobility, stooped posture, slow voluntary movements, and a mask-like facial expression.
(Parkinson's Disease, NCI Dictionary)
A voluntary network or grid connecting individuals and institutions to enable the sharing of data and tools, creating a World Wide Web of cancer research.
(Cancer Bioinformatics Grid, NCI Thesaurus)
Lack of coordination of muscle movements resulting in the impairment or inability to perform voluntary activities.
(Ataxia, NCI Thesaurus)
In the UK, the government included voluntary menu labelling in its Public Health Responsibility Deal in 2011.
(Menu labelling linked to less fat and salt in food, University of Cambridge)
With regard to Captain Wentworth, though Anne hazarded no enquiries, there was voluntary communication sufficient.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
To her voluntary communications Emma could get no more approving reply, than, Very well.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
A voluntary membership organization of physicians that sets standards for the profession of medicine, and is highly focused on medical education.
(American Medical Association, NCI Thesaurus)
