English Dictionary

Definition of “loose

loose (luːsPronunciation for loose

Definitions

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
    1. (esp of women) promiscuous or easy
    2. (of attitudes, ways of life, etc) immoral or dissolute
  7. lacking a sense of responsibility or propriety  ⇒ loose talk 
    1. (of the bowels) emptying easily, esp excessively; lax
    2. (of a cough) accompanied by phlegm, mucus, etc
  8. (of a dye or dyed article) fading as a result of washing; not fast
  9. informal mainly US Canadian very relaxed; easy

noun

  1. See the loose
  2. See on the loose

adverb

    1. in a loose manner; loosely
    2. ((in combination)  ⇒ loose-fitting 
  1. See hang loose

verb

  1. (tr) to set free or release, as from confinement, restraint, or obligation
  2. (tr) to unfasten or untie
  3. to make or become less strict, tight, firmly attached, compact, etc
  4.  when intr, often foll by off to let fly (a bullet, arrow, or other missile)

Alternative Forms

ˈloosely adverb ˈlooseness noun

Word Origin

C13 (in the sense: not bound): from Old Norse lauss  free; related to Old English lēas free from, -less

Translations

  • British English: loose Pronunciation for loose Something that is loose moves when it should not.One of the table legs is loose.luːs ADJECTIVE One of the table legs is loose.
  • Spanish: holgado Pronunciation for holgado adj holgada
  • French: lâche Pronunciation for lâche adj
  • German: weit Pronunciation for weit adj
  • Chinese: 宽松的Pronunciation for 宽松的 adj
  • Arabic: مَفْكُوكٌPronunciation for مَفْكُوكٌ adj
  • Portuguese: frouxoPronunciation for frouxo adj frouxa
  • Russian: свободныйPronunciation for свободный adj свободная
  • Croatian: labavPronunciation for labav adj labava
  • Czech: volnýPronunciation for volný adj
  • Danish: løsPronunciation for løs adj
  • Dutch: losPronunciation for los adj
  • Finnish: löysäPronunciation for löysä adj
  • Greek: χαλαρόςPronunciation for χαλαρός adj χαλαρή
  • Italian: scioltoPronunciation for sciolto adj sciolta
  • Japanese: 緩いPronunciation for 緩い adj
  • Korean: 헐렁한Pronunciation for 헐렁한 adj
  • Norwegian: løsPronunciation for løs adj
  • Polish: luźnyPronunciation for luźny adj luźna
  • Brazilian Portuguese: frouxoPronunciation for frouxo adj frouxa
  • European Spanish: holgado Pronunciation for holgado adj holgada
  • Swedish: lösPronunciation for lös adj löst
  • Thai: ไม่แน่นPronunciation for ไม่แน่น adj
  • Turkish: gevşekPronunciation for gevşek adj
  • Vietnamese: lỏngPronunciation for lỏng adj

  • British English: loose Loose clothes are rather large and are not tight.Wear loose, comfortable clothes when you do the exercises.luːs ADJECTIVE Wear loose, comfortable clothes when you do the exercises.
  • French: ample adj
  • Arabic: فَضْفاض adj
  • Brazilian Portuguese: folgado adj folgada

Usage examples

  • Now, seeing her again had let loose emotions he hadn't felt for a long time.
    Stuart Harrison, LOST SUMMER (2002)
  • Raw and messy emotions are let loose in private, almost never, God forbid, at the funeral itself.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • Felix wants order; Oscar wants the loose , louche bachelor lifestyle.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Stay loose , let the whole body shake, tremble like a leaf in the wind... become the shaking... keep breathing!
    Amoda, MOVING INTO ECSTASY: An Urban Mystic's Guide to Movement, Music and Meditation (2001)

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