loose

adjective

UK /luːs/

Word Forms

adjective	loose
comparative	looser
superlative	loosest

1
not firmly fixed in position
loose floorboards
a loose tooth
work/come loose (=become loose):
One of the screws had worked loose.
Synonyms and related words
Loose and not held firmly in place
loose
slack
free-floating
1. 1a
  if your hair is loose, it is not tied in position
  Her hair was loose and hung on her shoulders.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe the state of people’s hair
  bad hair day
  bald
  balding
2. 1b
  not forming a firm mass
  loose soil/stones
  Synonyms and related words
  Loose and not held firmly in place
  loose
  slack
  free-floating
3. 1c
  if a person or animal is loose, they can move around easily because they are not tied to anything, not held by anyone, or not kept inside something
  A large dog was loose in the garden.
  break/shake/get loose (from someone/something) (=become free):
  The woman managed to break loose from her attacker and run for help.
  turn/set/let someone loose (=allow someone to be free):
  The kidnappers had set him loose on a dark country lane.
  Synonyms and related words
  Free and independent
  free
  independent
  self-sufficient
2
not kept together as part of a group or in a container
Loose oranges are 60p each.
Synonyms and related words
Loose and not held firmly in place
loose
slack
free-floating
3
loose clothes are large and do not fit your body tightly
a loose cotton shirt
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe clothes
A-line
backless
baggy
1. 3a
  if something such as a rope or knot is loose, it is not pulled tight
  Synonyms and related words
  Loose and not held firmly in place
  loose
  slack
  free-floating
2. 3b
  not tightly woven or knitted
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe cloth
  be shot through with something
  breathable
  brushed
4
not exactly accurate in every detail
This is a loose translation of the letter.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe descriptions
101
blow-by-blow
broad
Synonyms and related words
Inexact and inaccurate
incorrect
inexact
wrong
5
not strictly organized or official
a system in which political parties form a loose alliance
We’ve got a loose arrangement for looking after each other’s children.
Synonyms and related words
Not planned
random
arbitrary
spontaneous
6
if the solid waste from your body is loose, it has too much liquid in it
Synonyms and related words
Going to the toilet
be caught short
bedwetting
bowel movement
7
a loose ball is not being controlled by any of the players in a game
Synonyms and related words
Types of bat and ball used in sports and games
ball
baseball
basketball
8
old-fashionedcareless about what you say or who you say it to
loose talk:
You’ve been warned about loose talk before.
Synonyms and related words
Careless and casual
careless
casual
complacency
9
old-fashionedsexually immoral
loose morals
Synonyms and related words
Having a lot of sexual partners
loose
philandering
promiscuity

phrases

break/cut loose

hang/cut loose

have a loose tongue

let something loose

let someone loose (on something)

loose

adjective

US /lus/

Word Forms

adjective	loose
comparative	looser
superlative	loosest

1
not firmly fixed in position
loose floorboards
a loose tooth
work/come loose (=become loose):
One of the screws had worked loose.
Synonyms and related words
Loose and not held firmly in place
loose
slack
free-floating
1. 1a
  if your hair is loose, it is not tied in position
  Her hair was loose and hung on her shoulders.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe the state of people’s hair
  bad hair day
  bald
  balding
2. 1b
  not forming a firm mass
  loose soil/stones
  Synonyms and related words
  Loose and not held firmly in place
  loose
  slack
  free-floating
3. 1c
  if a person or animal is loose, they can move around easily because they are not tied to anything, not held by anyone, or not kept inside something
  A large dog was loose in the yard.
  break/shake/get loose (from someone/something) (=become free):
  The woman managed to break loose from her attacker and run for help.
  turn/set/let someone loose (=allow someone to be free):
  The kidnappers had set him loose on a dark country lane.
  Synonyms and related words
  Free and independent
  free
  independent
  self-sufficient
2
not kept together as part of a group or in a container
Loose oranges are 59 cents each.
Synonyms and related words
Loose and not held firmly in place
loose
slack
free-floating
3
loose clothes are large and do not fit your body tightly
a loose cotton shirt
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe clothes
A-line
backless
baggy
1. 3a
  if something such as a rope or knot is loose, it is not pulled tight
  Synonyms and related words
  Loose and not held firmly in place
  loose
  slack
  free-floating
2. 3b
  not tightly woven or knitted
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe cloth
  be shot through with something
  breathable
  brushed
4
not exactly accurate in every detail
This is a loose translation of the letter.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe descriptions
101
blow-by-blow
broad
Synonyms and related words
Inexact and inaccurate
incorrect
inexact
wrong
5
not strictly organized or official
a system in which political parties form a loose alliance
We’ve got a loose arrangement for looking after each other’s children.
Synonyms and related words
Not planned
random
arbitrary
spontaneous
6
if the solid waste from your body is loose, it has too much liquid in it
Synonyms and related words
Going to the toilet
be caught short
bedwetting
bowel movement
7
a loose ball is not being controlled by any of the players in a game
Synonyms and related words
Types of bat and ball used in sports and games
ball
baseball
basketball
8
old-fashionedcareless about what you say or who you say it to
loose talk:
You’ve been warned about loose talk before.
Synonyms and related words
Careless and casual
careless
casual
complacency
9
old-fashionedsexually immoral
loose morals
Synonyms and related words
Having a lot of sexual partners
easy
loose
philandering

phrases

break/cut loose

hang/cut loose

have a loose tongue

let something loose

let someone loose (on something)

loose

noun

UK /luːs/

loose

noun

US /lus/

loose

verb transitive formal or literary

UK /luːs/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	loose
he/she/it	looses
present participle	loosing
past tense	loosed
past participle	loosed

1

loose
or
loose off
to fire something such as a bullet, missile, or arrow
Synonyms and related words
Supplying and using weapons and explosives
arm
armament
armed
2
to start holding someone or something less tightly
He loosed his grip suddenly and dropped the vase.
Synonyms and related words
To stop holding or touching something
release
let go (of someone/something)
take/get your hands off
3
to untie a person or animal
Synonyms and related words
To tie and untie knots
knot
untie
unfurl
4
to make something bad or harmful start to happen in an uncontrolled way
The dispute has loosed a flood of political ill will.
Synonyms and related words
To make something bad exist or happen
bring on
cause
touch off

phrasal verbs

loose on

loose

verb transitive formal or literary

US /lus/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	loose
he/she/it	looses
present participle	loosing
past tense	loosed
past participle	loosed

1
to untie a person or animal
Synonyms and related words
To tie and untie knots
knot
untie
unfurl
2
to make something bad or harmful start to happen in an uncontrolled way
The dispute has loosed a flood of political ill will.
Synonyms and related words
To make something bad exist or happen
touch off
bring on
cause
3

loose
or
loose off
mainly British
to fire something such as a bullet, missile, or arrow
Synonyms and related words
Supplying and using weapons and explosives
arm
armament
armed
4
mainly Britishto start holding someone or something less tightly
He loosed his grip suddenly and dropped the vase.
Synonyms and related words
To stop holding or touching something
release
let go (of someone/something)
take/get your hands off

phrasal verbs

loose on

loose

loose

loose

on the loose

loose

on the loose

loose

loose

loose off

loose

loose

loose off

loose ​‌‌

loose ​‌‌

loose

on the loose

loose

on the loose

loose

loose

loose off

loose

loose

loose off

loose

loose