loose meaning and definition

LOOSE verb

Definition of loose (verb)

1. grant freedom to; free from confinement
   • synonyms: free, liberate, release, unloose, unloosen
   • antonym: confine
2. turn loose or free from restraint
   • "let loose mines"; "Loose terrible plagues upon humanity"
   • synonyms: let loose, unleash
3. make loose or looser
   • "loosen the tension on a rope"
   • synonyms: loosen
   • antonym: stiffen
4. become loose or looser or less tight
   • "The noose loosened"; "the rope relaxed"
   • synonyms: loosen, relax
   • antonym: stiffen

LOOSE adjective

Definition of loose (adjective)

1. not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
   • "loose gravel"
   • antonym: compact
2. (of a ball in sport) not in the possession or control of any player
   • "a loose ball"
3. not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting
   • "loose clothing"; "the large shoes were very loose"
   • antonym: tight
4. not officially recognized or controlled
   • "an informal agreement"; "a loose organization of the local farmers"
   • synonyms: informal
5. not literal
   • "a loose interpretation of what she had been told"; "a free translation of the poem"
   • synonyms: free, liberal
6. emptying easily or excessively
   • "loose bowels"
   • synonyms: lax
7. not affixed
   • "the stamp came loose"
   • synonyms: unaffixed
   • antonym: affixed
8. not tense or taut
   • "the old man's skin hung loose and grey"; "slack and wrinkled skin"; "slack sails"; "a slack rope"
   • synonyms: slack
9. (of textures) full of small openings or gaps
   • "an open texture"; "a loose weave"
   • synonyms: open
10. lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility
    • "idle talk"; "a loose tongue"
    • synonyms: idle
11. not carefully arranged in a package
    • "a box of loose nails"
12. having escaped, especially from confinement
    • "a convict still at large"; "searching for two escaped prisoners"; "dogs loose on the streets"; "criminals on the loose in the neighborhood"
    • synonyms: at large, escaped, on the loose
13. casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
    • "her easy virtue"; "he was told to avoid loose (or light) women"; "wanton behavior"
    • synonyms: easy, light, promiscuous, sluttish, wanton

LOOSE adverb

Definition of loose (adverb)

1. without restraint
   • "cows in India are running loose"
   • synonyms: free