/ ˈlɪbərəl; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
RESPECTING OTHER OPINIONS
1.
willing to understand and respect other people's behaviour, opinions, etc., especially when they are different from your own; believing people should be able to choose how they behave :
liberal attitudes / views / opinions
POLITICS
2.
wanting or allowing a lot of political and economic freedom and supporting gradual social, political or religious change :
Some politicians want more liberal trade relations with Europe.
liberal democracy
liberal theories
a liberal politician
3.
Liberal connected with the British Liberal Party in the past, or of a Liberal Party in another country
GENEROUS
4.
liberal (with sth) generous; given in large amounts
SYN lavish :
She is very liberal with her money.
I think Sam is too liberal with his criticism (= he criticizes people too much) .
EDUCATION
5.
concerned with increasing sb's general knowledge and experience rather than particular skills :
a liberal education
NOT EXACT
6.
not completely accurate or exact
SYN free :
a liberal translation of the text
a liberal interpretation of the law
► lib·er·al·ly / -rəli; NAmE / adverb :
Apply the cream liberally.
The word 'original' is liberally interpreted in copyright law.
■ noun
SB WHO RESPECTS OTHERS
1.
a person who understands and respects other people's opinions and behaviour, especially when they are different from their own
POLITICS
2.
a person who supports political, social and religious change :
Reform is popular with middle-class liberals.
3.
Liberal ( politics ) a member of the British Liberal Party in the past, or of a Liberal Party in another country
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : via Old French from Latin liberalis , from liber free (man). The original sense was suitable for a free man , hence suitable for a gentleman (one not tied to a trade), surviving in liberal arts . Another early sense generous (compare with sense 4) gave rise to an obsolete meaning free from restraint , leading to sense 1 (late 18th cent.).