loose
free or released from fastening or attachment: a loose end.
free from anything that binds or restrains; unfettered: loose cats prowling around in alleyways at night.
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.
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.
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.
in a loose manner; loosely (usually used in combination): loose-flowing.
to let loose; free from bonds or restraint.
to release, as from constraint, obligation, or penalty.
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.
to render less firmly fixed; lessen an attachment; loosen.
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.
Idioms about loose
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.
let loose. See entry at let 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.
Origin of loose
1Other words for loose
2 | unbound, untied, unrestricted, unconfined |
10 | libertine, dissolute, licentious |
17 | vague, general, indefinite |
20 | loosen, unbind |
21 | liberate |
25 | ease |
Opposites for loose
Other words from loose
- loose·ly, adverb
- loose·ness, noun
- o·ver·loose, adjective
- o·ver·loose·ness, noun
Words that may be confused with loose
Words Nearby loose
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use loose in a sentence
What’s more, Reich believed that a looser view of sex would free society from the psychological hang-ups preventing people from reaching their orgastic potential.
This scientist thought he’d found the source of all sexual energy | PopSci Staff | September 17, 2020 | Popular-ScienceI gently lowered the trap into a bucket and pulled loose the wires that held it together.
How to hunt for star-nosed moles (and their holes) | Kenneth Catania | September 15, 2020 | Popular-ScienceEventually officials decided it needed a lot more work than they thought it would and when they did that work, they let asbestos loose and now the building is a mess and it could cost city taxpayers a lot of money.
Politics Report: Alleged Footnote 15 | Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts | September 5, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoSo in a laboratory greenhouse, the researchers let three species of dodders loose on plants with different flowering times, confirming that all the parasites shifted their flowering time to match their hosts.
This parasitic plant eavesdrops on its host to know when to flower | Jonathan Lambert | September 4, 2020 | Science NewsWe feel that the Federal Reserve policy is going to remain extremely loose.
Jefferies strategist expects China to fulfill its U.S. trade deal commitments for an unexpected reason | Veta Chan | August 27, 2020 | Fortune
As of Thursday night, the brothers remained on the loose, last seen in northern France.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre | Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTHas L.A. figured out how to stop the epidemic it set loose on the world?
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, Dec 29-Jan 4, 2014 | William Boot | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTBiden 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 Wildly Peaceful, Human, Almost Boring, Ultimately Great New York City Protests for Eric Garner | Mike Barnicle | December 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe lads can enjoy a good pop shot, but should a woman come, all hell breaks loose.
The UK’s War on Porn: ‘Proof That Men Making These Rules Do Not See Women as Equals’ | Aurora Snow | December 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSol laughed out of his whiskers, with a big, loose-rolling sound, and sat on the porch without waiting to be asked.
The Bondboy | George W. (George Washington) OgdenShe was holding the back of her chair with one hand; her loose sleeve had slipped almost to the shoulder of her uplifted arm.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate Chopin"I call you," the policeman said, and stripping the saddle and bridle from his sweaty horse, turned him loose to graze.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. SinclairFor good or ill, the torrent of rebellion was suffered to break loose, and it soon engulfed a continent.
The Red Year | Louis TracyHe rode easily, with a loose rein, and he waved his disengaged hand the instant he caught sight of the white faces.
The Red Year | Louis Tracy
British Dictionary definitions for loose
/ (luːs) /
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, mainly US and Canadian very relaxed; easy
the loose rugby 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
informal on a spree
in a loose manner; loosely
(in combination): loose-fitting
hang loose informal, mainly US to behave in a relaxed, easy fashion
(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
(when intr, often foll by off) to let fly (a bullet, arrow, or other missile)
Origin of loose
1Derived forms of loose
- loosely, adverb
- looseness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with loose
In addition to the idioms beginning with loose
- loose cannon
- loose ends
also see:
- 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
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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