English Explanatory Dictionary

loose

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To let loose, to free from restraints.
  2. To unfasten, to loosen.
  3. To make less tight, to loosen.
  4. Of a grip or hold, to let go.
  5. To shoot (an arrow).
  6. To set sail.
  7. To solve; to interpret.
adj
  1. Not fixed in place tightly or firmly.
  2. Not held or packaged together.
  3. Not under control.
  4. Not fitting closely.
  5. Not compact.
  6. Relaxed.
  7. Not precise or exact; vague; indeterminate.
  8. Indiscreet.
  9. Free from moral restraint; immoral, unchaste.
  10. Not being in the possession of any competing team during a game.
  11. Not costive; having lax bowels.
  12. Measured loosely stacked or disorganized (such as of firewood).
noun
  1. The release of an arrow.
  2. A state of laxity or indulgence; unrestrained freedom, abandonment.
  3. All play other than set pieces (scrums and line-outs).
  4. Freedom from restraint.
  5. A letting go; discharge.
intj
  1. begin shooting; release your arrows
verb
  1. Obsolete form of lose.
  2. Misspelling of lose.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

lo͞os /luːs/ en-us-loose.ogg /ˈlʉs/

Word forms

loose looses loosing loosed looser loosest

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Old Norse laussbor. Middle English loos English loose From Middle English loos, los, lous, from Old Norse lauss, from Proto-Germanic *lausaz, whence also -less, leasing; from Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- (“to untie, set free, separate”), whence also lyo-, -lysis, via Ancient Greek.

Synonyms

fire shoot free release loosen unbind undo unfasten untie relax slacken let go unsecured spaced out relaxed slutty tarty whorish loose unstapled unfastened untethered separate unpackaged baggy diffuse loose-limbed indiscreet promiscuous

Antonyms

bind constrain fasten tie tighten fast firm tight packaged bound leashed tethered tied tied up close-fitting snug compact tense tensed discreet faithful monogamous

Related words

rickety separate forlorn lyo- ly- -lysis lysis

Derived words

loose off loose up a few roos loose in the top paddock a kangaroo loose in the top paddock all bedlam breaks loose all hell breaks loose a roo loose in the top paddock at a loose end at loose ends break loose cast loose cut loose cut one loose cut someone loose false loose smut fast and loose footloose hang loose hang-loose sign have a loose screw have a screw loose kick loose let loose let one loose let someone loose loose ablative loose anagen hair syndrome loose anagen syndrome loose as a goose loose box loose-box loose cannon loose change loose connection loose construction loose constructionism loose-coupled loose coupling loose edge loose end loose ends loosefill loose fish loose-fitting loose-handed loose-handedly loose-handedness loosehead loose head loosejaw loose-knit looseleaf loose-leaf loose lip loose-lipped loose lips sink ships loosely loose-meat sandwich loose motion loosen

Translations

Bulgarian: неопакован Dutch: los Finnish: irtonainen Finnish: irto- French: à la pièce German: lose Greek: χύμα Hindi: खुला Hungarian: kimérve/súlyra kapható Hungarian: lédig Hungarian: csomagolatlan Hungarian: ömlesztett Italian: sciolto Italian: sfuso Norwegian Bokmål: løs Polish: luzem Portuguese: desembalado Russian: неупако́ванный Spanish: suelto
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