English Dictionary

Definition of “loose”

loose (luːs Pronunciation 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)

Derived 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 for 'loose'

  • British English: loosePronunciation for loose Something that is loose moves when it should not.One of the table legs is loose.luːs ADJECTIVEnot fixed
  • Arabic: مَفْكُوكٌPronunciation for مَفْكُوكٌ
  • Brazilian Portuguese: frouxoPronunciation for frouxo frouxa
  • Chinese: 宽松的Pronunciation for 宽松的
  • Croatian: labavPronunciation for labav labava
  • Czech: volnýPronunciation for volnýnepřipevněný
  • Danish: løsPronunciation for løs
  • Dutch: losPronunciation for los
  • European Spanish: holgadoPronunciation for holgado holgada
  • Finnish: löysäPronunciation for löysä
  • French: lâchePronunciation for lâchepeu serré
  • German: weitPronunciation for weitKleidung
  • Greek: χαλαρόςPronunciation for χαλαρός χαλαρή
  • Italian: scioltoPronunciation for sciolto sciolta
  • Japanese: 緩いPronunciation for 緩い
  • Korean: 풀린Pronunciation for 풀린
  • Norwegian: løsPronunciation for løs
  • Polish: luźnyPronunciation for luźny luźna
  • Portuguese: frouxoPronunciation for frouxo frouxa
  • Romanian: instabil instabilă, instabili, instabile
  • Russian: расшатанныйPronunciation for расшатанный расшатанная
  • Spanish: sueltoPronunciation for suelto suelta
  • Swedish: lösPronunciation for lös löst
  • Thai: ไม่แน่นPronunciation for ไม่แน่น
  • Turkish: gevşekPronunciation for gevşekdüğüm vb
  • Ukrainian: вільний
  • Vietnamese: lỏngPronunciation for lỏngrộng
  • British English: looseluːs Loose clothes are rather large and are not tight.Wear loose, comfortable clothes when you do the exercises. ADJECTIVEbaggy
  • Arabic: فَضْفاض
  • Brazilian Portuguese: folgado folgada
  • Chinese: 宽松的
  • Croatian: širok
  • Czech: volnýoděv
  • Danish: løstsiddende
  • Dutch: ruim
  • European Spanish: holgado
  • Finnish: väljä
  • French: amplevêtement
  • German: weit
  • Greek: φαρδύς φαρδιά
  • Italian: ampio ampia
  • Japanese: ゆったりとした
  • Korean: 헐거워진
  • Norwegian: ledig
  • Polish: luźny luźna
  • Portuguese: solto
  • Romanian: larg larg, largă, largi
  • Russian: свободный
  • Spanish: suelto suelta
  • Swedish: lös löst
  • Thai: หลวม
  • Turkish: bol
  • Ukrainian: вільний
  • Vietnamese: rộng

Example Sentences Including 'loose'

He had the feeling of an undergraduate about him -- dissolute, uncaring, loose -- a very bad combination for a spy, thought Schneider.
Robert Wilson THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)
It's a private matter,' Tony said, trying to look innocuous, arms loose by his sides in an unthreatening posture.
Val McDermid THE LAST TEMPTATION (2002)
Some men, like seamstresses in invisible mending workrooms, can weave loose threads together till a pattern is regained or established.
Jon Cleary YESTERDAY'S SHADOW (2002)
Tea consumption was overwhelmingly of loose leaf: 80 per cent, against 20 per cent in bags.
Irish Times (2002)
The ensuing quick assessment revealed that the keel had done a heck of a lot more than just come loose.
Rob Mundle FATAL STORM (2001)
The terrain is a lot harder than anything we would meet on the Scottish hills - steep and rocky or loose scree and gravel.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
There is loose talk in the ranks of the prospect of an overall majority.
Irish Times (2002)
Woods is second to none for his awareness and use of the ball in the loose.
Glasgow Herald (2001)

Comments

Log in to comment on this word.