I. vol ‧ un ‧ teer 1 AC /ˌvɒlənˈtɪə $ ˌvɑːlənˈtɪr/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ volunteer ; noun : ↑ volunteer ; adverb : ↑ voluntarily ≠ ↑ involuntarily ; adjective : ↑ voluntary ≠ ↑ involuntary ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: French ; Origin: volontaire , from Latin voluntarius ; ⇨ ↑ voluntary 1 ]
1 . someone who does a job willingly without being paid ⇨ voluntary :
Most of the relief work was done by volunteers.
2 . someone who is willing to offer help:
I need some volunteers to help with the washing-up.
3 . someone who joins the army, navy, or air force without being forced to ⇨ conscript
II. volunteer 2 AC BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ volunteer ; noun : ↑ volunteer ; adverb : ↑ voluntarily ≠ ↑ involuntarily ; adjective : ↑ voluntary ≠ ↑ involuntary ]
1 . [intransitive and transitive] to offer to do something without expecting any reward, often something that other people do not want to do
volunteer to do something
Helen volunteered to have Thanksgiving at her house this year.
volunteer for
Sidcup volunteered for guard duty.
I volunteered my services as a driver.
2 . [transitive] to tell someone something without being asked:
Michael volunteered the information before I had a chance to ask.
3 . [intransitive] to offer to join the army, navy, or air force:
When war broke out, my father volunteered immediately.
4 . [transitive] to say that someone else will do a job even though they may not want to do it
volunteer somebody for something
Mum volunteered Dave for washing-up duties.