[ˌvɒlənˈtɪə], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task
(e.g: a call for volunteers to act as foster-parents)

- a person who works for an organization without being paid
(e.g: the railway is operated solely by volunteers)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 16th century (as a noun, with military reference): from French volontaire ‘voluntary’. The change in the ending was due to association with -eer

[ˌvɒlənˈtɪə], (Verb)

Definitions:
- freely offer to do something
(e.g: 140 employees volunteered for redundancy)

- work for an organization without being paid
(e.g: volunteering is an easy way to get involved in practical conservation)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 16th century (as a noun, with military reference): from French volontaire ‘voluntary’. The change in the ending was due to association with -eer