Advertisement
Advertisement
loose
[loos]
adjective
free or released from fastening or attachment.
a loose end.
Antonyms:free from anything that binds or restrains; unfettered.
loose cats prowling around in alleyways at night.
Synonyms:uncombined, as a chemical element.
not bound together.
to wear one's hair loose.
not put up in a package or other container.
loose mushrooms.
available for disposal; unused; unappropriated.
loose funds.
lacking in reticence or power of restraint.
a loose tongue.
lax, as the bowels.
lacking moral restraint or integrity.
notorious for his loose character.
sexually promiscuous or immoral; unchaste.
Synonyms: , ,Antonyms:not firm, taut, or rigid.
a loose tooth;
a loose rein.
relaxed or limber in nature.
He runs with a loose, open stride.
not fitting closely or tightly.
a loose sweater.
not close or compact in structure or arrangement; having spaces between the parts; open.
a loose weave.
having few restraining factors between associated constituents and allowing ample freedom for independent action.
a loose federation of city-states.
not cohering.
loose sand.
not strict, exact, or precise.
a loose interpretation of the law.
Synonyms: , ,Sports.
having the players on a team positioned at fairly wide intervals, as in a football formation.
(of a ball, hockey puck, etc.) not in the possession of either team; out of player control.
adverb
in a loose manner; loosely (usually used in combination).
loose-flowing.
verb (used with object)
to let loose; free from bonds or restraint.
Synonyms: ,to release, as from constraint, obligation, or penalty.
Synonyms:Chiefly Nautical.to set free from fastening or attachment.
to loose a boat from its moorings.
to unfasten, undo, or untie, as a bond, fetter, or knot.
to shoot; discharge; let fly.
to loose missiles at the invaders.
to make less tight; slacken or relax.
Synonyms:Antonyms:to render less firmly fixed; lessen an attachment; loosen.
verb (used without object)
to let go a hold.
to hoist anchor; get under way.
to shoot or let fly an arrow, bullet, etc. (often followed byoff ).
to loose off at a flock of ducks.
Obsolete.to become loose; loosen.
loose
/ ː /
adjective
free or released from confinement or restraint
not close, compact, or tight in structure or arrangement
not fitted or fitting closely
loose clothing is cooler
not bundled, packaged, fastened, or put in a container
loose nails
inexact; imprecise
a loose translation
(of funds, cash, etc) not allocated or locked away; readily available
(esp of women) promiscuous or easy
(of attitudes, ways of life, etc) immoral or dissolute
lacking a sense of responsibility or propriety
loose talk
(of the bowels) emptying easily, esp excessively; lax
(of a cough) accompanied by phlegm, mucus, etc
(of a dye or dyed article) fading as a result of washing; not fast
informalvery relaxed; easy
noun
rugby the part of play when the forwards close round the ball in a ruck or loose scrum See scrum
free from confinement or restraint
informalon a spree
adverb
in a loose manner; loosely
( in combination )
loose-fitting
informalto behave in a relaxed, easy fashion
verb
(tr) to set free or release, as from confinement, restraint, or obligation
(tr) to unfasten or untie
to make or become less strict, tight, firmly attached, compact, etc
to let fly (a bullet, arrow, or other missile)
Other 51Թ Forms
- loosely adverb
- looseness noun
- overloose adjective
- overlooseness noun
- ˈǴDzԱ noun
- ˈǴDz adverb
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of loose1
Idioms and Phrases
break loose, to free oneself; escape.
The convicts broke loose.
cut loose,
to release from domination or control.
to become free, independent, etc.
to revel without restraint.
After the rodeo they headed into town to cut loose.
on the loose,
free; unconfined, as, especially, an escaped convict or circus animal.
behaving in an unrestrained or dissolute way.
a bachelor on the loose.
turn loose, to release or free, as from confinement.
The teacher turned the children loose after the class.
let loose. let loose.
cast loose,
to loosen or unfasten, as a ship from a mooring.
to send forth; set adrift or free.
He was cast loose at an early age to make his own way in the world.
hang / stay loose, to remain relaxed and unperturbed.
Example Sentences
A customer has called: a horse is loose and wandering in a country lane.
Jonathan said he’s aware of some of what has been recovered, which includes several loose stones that were “ripped out of” larger gold jewelry that he believes has already been scrapped.
Mr Eastwood told the inquest he "shouted that his son's head guard had come loose" in the second round, which was rectified.
However, if a static caravan is a holiday home, any agreement between its buyer and a caravan site is covered by private contract law, which is much looser.
In so doing, he stoked the aspirations of no less than The Beatles, establishing a loose rivalry that would reshape the face of popular music in the bargain.
Advertisement
When To Use
Loose is most commonly used as an adjective meaning not tight or free or released from fastening, attachment, or restraint, as in a loose screw or Let him loose! Lose is a verb most commonly meaning to fail to win or to misplace something, as in I hate to lose in chess or Don’t lose your key. Loose ends with an s sound and rhymes with moose. Lose ends with a z sound and rhymes with choose.One reason that the two words are sometimes confused is that loose can also be used as a verb, most commonly meaning to free something from a restraint, as in loose the cannons! Perhaps the most common misuse of these words is when loose is used when lose should be. To remember the difference, remember this sentence: You could lose loose screws. (First comes the verb lose, with one o, followed by the adjective loose, with two ’s).Here’s an example of loose and lose used correctly in a sentence.Example: If you carry around loose cash, you could lose it—put it in your wallet.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between loose and lose.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse