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loose
[ loos ]
adjective
- free or released from fastening or attachment:
a loose end.
Antonyms: bound
- free from anything that binds or restrains; unfettered:
loose cats prowling around in alleyways at night.
Synonyms: unbound
- 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: licentious, dissolute, libertine
Antonyms: chaste
- 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: indefinite, general, vague
- 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.
- to release, as from constraint, obligation, or penalty.
Synonyms: liberate
- 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: ease
Antonyms: tighten
- 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 by off ):
to loose off at a flock of ducks.
- Obsolete. to become loose; loosen.
loose
/ luːs /
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
- informal.very relaxed; easy
noun
- the looserugby the part of play when the forwards close round the ball in a ruck or loose scrum See scrum
- on the loose
- free from confinement or restraint
- on a spree
adverb
- in a loose manner; loosely
- ( in combination )
loose-fitting
- hang loose informal.to 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
- whenintr, often foll by off to let fly (a bullet, arrow, or other missile)
Derived Forms
- ˈlooseness, noun
- ˈloosely, adverb
Other Words From
- loose·ly adverb
- loose·ness noun
- o·ver·loose adjective
- o·ver·loose·ness noun
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of loose1
Idioms and Phrases
- break loose, to free oneself; escape:
The convicts broke 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.
- 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.
- hang / stay loose, Slang. to remain relaxed and unperturbed.
- 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 ( def ).
More idioms and phrases containing loose
- at loose ends
- break loose
- cast loose
- cut loose
- footloose and fancy-free
- hang loose
- have a screw loose
- on the loose
- play fast and loose
Example Sentences
As of Thursday night, the brothers remained on the loose, last seen in northern France.
Has L.A. figured out how to stop the epidemic it set loose on the world?
Biden is, of course, famous for being a bit loose in his public remarks.
He was pinned to the cement for his refusal to go along with an arrest for selling loose cigarettes.
The lads can enjoy a good pop shot, but should a woman come, all hell breaks loose.
Sol laughed out of his whiskers, with a big, loose-rolling sound, and sat on the porch without waiting to be asked.
She was holding the back of her chair with one hand; her loose sleeve had slipped almost to the shoulder of her uplifted arm.
"I call you," the policeman said, and stripping the saddle and bridle from his sweaty horse, turned him loose to graze.
For good or ill, the torrent of rebellion was suffered to break loose, and it soon engulfed a continent.
He rode easily, with a loose rein, and he waved his disengaged hand the instant he caught sight of the white faces.
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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.
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