vol‧un‧ta‧ry 1 W3 AC / vɒlənt ə ri $ vɑlənteri / 形容词
1
a) voluntary organization/association/agency etc an organization etc that is organized or supported by people who give their money, services etc because they want to and who do not intend to make a profit → volunteer :
a voluntary organization providing help for the elderly
environmental work carried out by the voluntary sector
b) voluntary work/service etc work etc that is done by people who do it because they want to, and who are not paid :
She does a lot of voluntary work for the Red Cross.
a drop-in centre for homeless people, run on a voluntary basis
2 done willingly and without being forced :
Workers are being encouraged to take voluntary redundancy. → compulsory
3 technical voluntary movements of your body are controlled by your conscious mind 反义词 involuntary
COLLOCATIONS
名词
a voluntary organization/group/body/agency The day care scheme was run by a voluntary organization.
the voluntary sector (= voluntary work and the people involved in it ) What is the role of the voluntary sector in sport?
voluntary work/service He does voluntary work with young offenders.
短语
on a voluntary basis Guide and Scout leaders work on a voluntary basis.
THESAURUS
not compulsory
optional if something is optional, you can choose whether to do it or not : You don’t have to do French – it’s optional. | The holiday price includes optional excursions such as an evening cruise on the lake. | General Studies is optional for sixth-form students.
voluntary done because you want to do it and not because you have to – used especially about things that you do because you think they will help other people or be useful : The programme is entirely voluntary, and no one will be forced to join. | The charity is funded by voluntary donations.