See also: Freecycle

English

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Etymology

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Blend of free +‎ recycle, popularized by The Freecycle Network and the general freecycling movement.

Verb

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freecycle (third-person singular simple present freecycles, present participle freecycling, simple past and past participle freecycled)

  1. To recycle by giving away an item for free.
    I freecycled most of the junk cluttering my house.
    • 2004 April 15, Nancy Castleman, “Freecycle for the Earth! Earth Day's coming up!”, in misc.consumers.frugal-living[1] (Usenet), retrieved 2024-09-08:
      Here in New York's Hudson Valley, we've freecycled swing sets, Little Tikes outdoor climbers, freezers, computer equipment, entertainment centers, baby furniture, and much, much more!

Noun

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freecycle (plural freecycles)

  1. A group (especially an online messaging group) that engages in freecycling.
    What freecycle did you join?

Usage notes

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The Freecycle Network claimed Freecycle as a trademark to be used only as a brand name to identify the company’s products and services. However, a 9th Circuit ruling in 2007 affirmed that freecycle may be used as a word. A second 9th Circuit ruling in 2010 reaffirmed that TFN engaged in naked licensing and consequently abandoned its trademark.