26984 words

loose

17 definitions • 26 examples
1
not firmly held or fastened in place:

Examples:

There were some loose wires hanging out of the wall.
work itself loose The nails in the wall had worked themselves loose.
hang loose The prisoners were so thin that their skin hung loose.
2
Loose hair is not tied back:

Examples:

hang loose Her hair was hanging loose to her shoulders.
3
Loose things are not held together or attached to anything else:

Examples:

A few loose sheets of paper were lying around.
4
In games such as basketball, football, and ice hockey, if the ball or puck is loose, neither team has control of it:

Examples:

loose ball She intercepted a loose ball in midfield and broke forward.
The ball was loose on the ground and he went in to take it.
The players collided with one another as they chased the loose ball.
He picked up a loose puck and skated down the left to fire home.
5
(of clothes) not fitting closely to the body:

Examples:

6
not tightly controlled, or not exact:

Examples:

It's a fairly loose adaptation of the novel.
It's only a loose translation of the poem.
7
having low morals; sexually free:

Examples:

She was accused of being a loose woman.
8

Examples:

The coach loosed an angry tirade against his team.
He loosed his frustration in a torrent of abuse.
9
to fire an arrow from a bow or shots from a gun:

Examples:

They were almost upon us as I loosed my last arrow.
His men loosed a volley of rifle fire into the surviving guards.
10
to allow something harmful or extreme to happen and affect somewhere:

Examples:

be loosed upon Sometimes anarchy is loosed upon the world because people firmly and honestly believe they are doing the right thing.
11
to set an animal free, especially in order to attack someone:

Examples:

loose something on someone They basically loosed the hounds on us.
12
to make something such as a knot or tie less tight:

Examples:

She loosed the knot and undid the bright coil of my hair.
The two hundred miles an hour wind had loosed the chains.
13
not firmly attached in place:

Examples:

I’d better sew that loose button before it comes off.
A few loose sheets of paper were lying around.
14
If an animal is loose, it is not tied up or caged in.
15
not tight; not fitting closely to the body or the thing that is covered:

Examples:

16
Loose can also mean not closely following something original, or not exact:

Examples:

The film is a loose adaptation of Conrad’s novel.
17
not tightly held together or to anything else:

Examples:

According to research, sales of tea bags, loose tea and instant tea have all declined.

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