Word forms: comparative looser, superlative loosest, 3rd person singular presenttense looses, present participle loosing, past tense, past participle loosed
1. adjective
Something that is loose is not firmly held or fixed in place.
If a tooth feels very loose, your dentist may recommend that it's taken out.
Two wooden beams had come loose from the ceiling. [+ from]
His tie was pulled loose and his collar hung open.
She idly pulled at a loose thread on her skirt.
looselyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Tim clasped his hands together and held them loosely in front of his belly.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Something that is loose is not attached to anything, or held or contained in anything.
Two young men were racing motorcycles on the loose gravel.
Frank emptied a handful of loose change on the table.
A page came loose and floated onto the tiles.
Synonyms: free, detached, insecure, unfettered More Synonyms of loose
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE after verb, ADJECTIVE noun, verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If people or animals break loose or are set loose, they are no longer held, tied, or kept somewhere and can move around freely.
She broke loose from his embrace and crossed to the window. [+ from]
Why didn't you tell me she'd been set loose?
Jack was chased by a loose dog.
Synonyms: untethered, free, roaming, at large More Synonyms of loose
4. adjective
Clothes that are loose are rather large and do not fit closely.
A pistol wasn't that hard to hide under a loose shirt.
Wear loose clothes as they're more comfortable.
Synonyms: slack, easy, hanging, relaxed More Synonyms of loose
looselyadverb [ADVERB after verb, oft ADV -ed]
His shirt hung loosely over his thin shoulders.
5. adjective
If your hair is loose, it hangs freely round your shoulders and is not tied back.
She was still in her nightdress, with her hair hanging loose over her shoulders.
6. adjective
If something is loose in texture, there is space between the different particles or threads it consists of.
She gathered loose soil and let it filter slowly through her fingers.
7. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A loose grouping, arrangement, or organization is flexible rather than strictly controlled or organized.
Murray and Alison came to some sort of loose arrangement before he went home.
He wants a loose coalition of left wing forces.
Synonyms: vague, random, inaccurate, disordered More Synonyms of loose
looselyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
The investigation had aimed at a loosely organised group of criminals.
8. graded adjective
Loose words or expressions are not exact but rather vague.
...a loose translation.
He despised loose thinking.
looselygraded adverb [ADVERB -ed, ADVERB after verb]
The book follows four characters, loosely based on my uncles.
9. graded adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If someone describes a person or their behaviour as loose, they disapprove of that person because they think she or he has sexual relationships with too many people.
[old-fashioned, disapproval]
10. verb
To loose a shot, arrow, or missile means to fire it.
He trained his gun down and loosed a brief burst. [VERB noun]
Loose off means the same as loose.
[British]
He loosed off two shots at the oncoming car. [VERBPARTICLE noun (not pronoun)]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
11. verb
If you loose something, you hold it less tightly or untie it slightly or completely.
He gave a grunt and loosed his grip on the rifle. [VERB noun]
The guards loosed his arms. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: free, release, ease, liberate More Synonyms of loose
12.
See on the loose
13. a loose cannon
14. to cut loose
15. all hell breaks loose
16. to let someone loose
17. to play fast and loose
Phrasal verbs:
See loose off
More Synonyms of loose
loose in British English
(luːs)
adjective
1.
free or released from confinement or restraint
2.
not close, compact, or tight in structure or arrangement
3.
not fitted or fitting closely
loose clothing is cooler
4.
not bundled, packaged, fastened, or put in a container
loose nails
5.
inexact; imprecise
a loose translation
6.
(of funds, cash, etc) not allocated or locked away; readily available
7.
a. old-fashioned
(esp of women) willing to engage in casual sexual activity
b.
(of attitudes, ways of life, etc) immoral or dissolute
8.
lacking a sense of responsibility or propriety
loose talk
9.
a.
(of the bowels) emptying easily, esp excessively; lax
b.
(of a cough) accompanied by phlegm, mucus, etc
10.
(of a dye or dyed article) fading as a result of washing; not fast
11. informal, mainly US and Canadian
very relaxed; easy
noun
12. the loose
13. on the loose
adverb
14.
a.
in a loose manner; loosely
b.
(in combination)
loose-fitting
15. hang loose
verb
16. (transitive)
to set free or release, as from confinement, restraint, or obligation
17. (transitive)
to unfasten or untie
18.
to make or become less strict, tight, firmly attached, compact, etc
19. (whenintr, often foll by off)
to let fly (a bullet, arrow, or other missile)
Derived forms
loosely (ˈloosely)
adverb
looseness (ˈlooseness)
noun
Word origin
C13 (in the sense: not bound): from Old Norse lauss free; related to Old English lēas free from, -less
loose in American English
(lus)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈlooser or ˈloosest
1.
not confined or restrained; free; unbound
2.
not put up in a special package, box, binding, etc.
loose salt
3.
readily available; not put away under lock and key
loose cash
4.
not firmly fastened down, on, or in
a loose tooth, a loose wheel
5.
not taut; slack
6.
not tight; giving enough room
loose clothing
7.
not compact or compactly constructed
loose soil, a loose frame
8.
not restrained; irresponsible
loose talk
9.
not precise or close; inexact
a loose translation
10.
sexually immoral or promiscuous
11.
a.
not strained or hard
a loose cough
b.
moving freely or excessively
loose bowels
12. Informal
relaxed; easy; unconstrained
adverbWord forms: ˈlooser or ˈloosest
13.
loosely; in a loose manner
verb transitiveWord forms: loosed or ˈloosing
14.
to make loose
; specif.,
a.
to set free; unbind
b.
to make less tight
c.
to make less compact
d.
to free from restraint; make less rigid; relax
e.
to free from an obligation or responsibility; absolve
15.
to let fly; release
to loose an arrow into the air
verb intransitive
16.
to discharge a bullet, arrow, etc.; fire
Idioms:
break loose
cast loose
let loose (with)
on the loose
set loose
Derived forms
loosely (ˈloosely)
adverb
looseness (ˈlooseness)
noun
Word origin
ME lous < ON lauss, akin to Ger los, OE leas: see -less
More idioms containing
loose
all hell breaks loose
play fast and loose with something
loose ends
be at a loose end
a loose cannon
have a screw loose
cut loose
hang loose
on the loose
Examples of 'loose' in a sentence
loose
We then chewed his ear about the dangers and once off the motorway let him loose.
The Sun (2017)
He played fast and loose with facts yet mistrust damaged his opponent more.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was great to see them let loose.
The Sun (2017)
He was going well in the race last year but a loose horse cannoned into him and he came down.
The Sun (2017)
Keep feet flexed rather than loose.
The Sun (2016)
Let me loose on that pool.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Secure the loose skin with fine skewers, or just tuck the skin underneath.
The Sun (2016)
We must stop organisations playing fast and loose with our data and maximum fines of £500,000 will be an important new deterrent.
Computing (2010)
She must be very unhappy to play fast and loose with the feelings of other people like that - especially those so close to her.
The Sun (2016)
But the loose cannon ignored them and spent the night before his death enjoying a pint in the Markets area of Belfast.
The Sun (2016)
Loose me and set your mind on other matters.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
The real village women stand behind her in loose plaid work shirts and jeans.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They formed a rather loose paradigm that influences the social theory of religion to this day.
Greeley, Andrew M. Sociology and Religion: A Collection of Readings (1995)
Just how will the loose cannon react?
The Sun (2015)
Keep arrangements loose while continuing to explore your options.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Keep your hair loose and a bit messy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Then ingenious arts entrepreneurs are let loose to do their best.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There is a loose flap of skin under his chin.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The conventions of spelling will become looser.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But this still allows the wheel to move around a little bit if it comes loose.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The benefits are loose clothes and more energy.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Death must loose its grip and give up its prey.
Christianity Today (2000)
Her hair is freshly set in loose curls and her green eyes twinkle behind spectacles.
The Sun (2007)
His shirt collar is loose around his neck.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Loose threads were hanging from many pieces.
The Sun (2007)
Keep hair loose and carefree for a modern edge.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Oman's gentleness can make your home country feel a bit fast and loose.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Wear your hair back and up, rather than hanging loose.
The Sun (2012)
Totally loose cannon, more like it.
The Sun (2012)
Knowing that, keep arrangements loose and expect the best.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Think light, loose and free.
The Sun (2007)
Check the wiring and plugs at the rear of the deck: a damaged or loose connection is easy to spot and fix.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
loose
British English: loose /luːs/ ADJECTIVE
not fixed Something that is loose moves when it should not.
One of the table legs is loose.
American English: loose
Arabic: مَفْكُوكٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: frouxo
Chinese: 宽松的
Croatian: labav
Czech: volný nepřipevněný
Danish: løs
Dutch: los
European Spanish: holgado
Finnish: löysä
French: lâche peu serré
German: weit Kleidung
Greek: χαλαρός
Italian: sciolto
Japanese: 緩い
Korean: 풀린
Norwegian: løs
Polish: luźny
European Portuguese: frouxo
Romanian: instabil
Russian: расшатанный
Latin American Spanish: suelto
Swedish: lös
Thai: ไม่แน่น
Turkish: gevşek düğüm vb
Ukrainian: вільний
Vietnamese: lỏng rộng
British English: loose /luːs/ ADJECTIVE
baggyLoose clothes are rather large and are not tight.
Wear loose, comfortable clothes when you do the exercises.
American English: loose
Arabic: فَضْفاض
Brazilian Portuguese: folgado
Chinese: 宽松的
Croatian: širok
Czech: volnýoděv
Danish: løstsiddende
Dutch: ruim
European Spanish: holgado
Finnish: väljä
French: amplevêtement
German: weit
Greek: φαρδύς
Italian: ampio
Japanese: ゆったりとした
Korean: 헐거워진
Norwegian: ledig
Polish: luźny
European Portuguese: solto
Romanian: larg
Russian: свободный
Latin American Spanish: suelto
Swedish: lös
Thai: หลวม
Turkish: bol
Ukrainian: вільний
Vietnamese: rộng
Definition of 'loose'
Chinese translation of 'loose'
loose
(luːs)
adj
(= not firm)[screw, connection, tooth]松(鬆)动(動)的 (sōngdòng de)