Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

size:Iraq itself has oil reserves second in size only to Saudi Arabia's.

vo|lu|mi|nous /vəluː m I nəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is voluminous is very large or contains a lot of things. [FORMAL ] □  The FBI kept a voluminous file on Pablo Picasso.

vol|un|tary ◆◇◇ /vɒ ləntri, [AM ] -teri/

1 ADJ Voluntary actions or activities are done because someone chooses to do them and not because they have been forced to do them. □  Attention is drawn to a special voluntary course in Commercial French. □  The scheme, due to begin next month, will be voluntary. ●  vol|un|tar|ily /vɒ ləntrəli, [AM ] -ter I li/ ADV [ADV with v] □  I would only leave here voluntarily if there was a big chance to work abroad.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Voluntary work is done by people who are not paid for it, but who do it because they want to do it. □  He'd been working at the local hostel on a voluntary basis.

3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A voluntary worker is someone who does work without being paid for it, because they want to do it. □  Apna Arts has achieved more with voluntary workers in three years than most organisations with paid workers have achieved in ten. □  We depend solely upon our voluntary helpers.

4 ADJ [ADJ n] A voluntary organization is controlled and organized by the people who have chosen to work for it, often without being paid, rather than receiving help or money from the government. □  Some local authorities and voluntary organizations also run workshops for people with disabilities. SYNONYMS voluntary ADJ 1

optional:A holiday isn't an optional extra. In this stressful, frantic world it's a must.

discretionary:Magistrates were given wider discretionary powers.

vol|un|teer ◆◇◇ /vɒ lənt I ə ^r / (volunteers , volunteering , volunteered )

1 N‑COUNT A volunteer is someone who does work without being paid for it, because they want to do it. □  She now helps in a local school as a volunteer three days a week. □  Mike was a member of the local volunteer fire brigade.

2 N‑COUNT A volunteer is someone who offers to do a particular task or job without being forced to do it. □  Right. What I want now is two volunteers to come down to the front.

3 VERB If you volunteer to do something, you offer to do it without being forced to do it. □ [V to-inf] Aunt Mary volunteered to clean up the kitchen. □ [V + for ] He volunteered for the army in 1939. □ [V + as ] She volunteered as a nurse in a soldiers' rest-home. □ [V n] He's volunteered his services as a chauffeur. [Also V ]

4 VERB If you volunteer information, you tell someone something without being asked. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The room was quiet; no one volunteered any further information. □ [V with quote] 'They were both great supporters of Franco,' Ryle volunteered. □ [V that] The next week, Phillida volunteered that they were getting on better.

5 N‑COUNT A volunteer is someone who chooses to join the armed forces, especially during a war, as opposed to someone who is forced to join by law. □  They fought as volunteers with the rebels.

vo|lup|tu|ous /vəlʌ ptʃuəs/ ADJ If you describe a woman as voluptuous , you mean that she has large breasts and hips and is considered attractive in a sexual way. □  …a voluptuous, well-rounded lady with glossy black hair.

vom|it /vɒ m I t/ (vomits , vomiting , vomited )