I. adjective
1.
not tightly bound, held, restrained, or stretched
loose rope
Synonyms: lax, relaxed, slack
Related Word: detached, free; flabby, flaccid, limp; desultory, negligent, remiss
Contrasted words: rigid, rigorous, stringent, taut, tense; exact, precise; bound, checked, curbed, inhibited, restrained, tied
Antonyms: strict; tight
2.
Synonyms: free 2, unconfined, unrestrained
Related Word: clear; disconnected, unattached, unconnected, undone, unfastened
Contrasted words: fast
3.
not dense, close, or compact in structure
loose soil
Synonyms: incoherent, nonadhesive
Related Word: disconnected, disjointed, separate, unconnected
Contrasted words: compressed, condensed, contracted; concentrated, crammed, crowded, localized; close, compact, dense, thick
4.
Synonyms: fast 7, easy, light, ||riggish, unchaste, wanton, whorish
Related Word: capricious, extravagant, free, inconstant, reckless, unrestrained
II. verb
1.
Synonyms: free , discharge, disenthrall, emancipate, liberate, loosen, manumit, release, unbind, unchain
2.
Synonyms: take out (on), release, unleash, vent
3.
to set free from a fastened or fixed condition
loose a knot
Synonyms: disengage, unbind, undo, unfasten, unfix, unloose, unloosen
Related Word: unbandage, unbar, unbolt, unbuckle, unbutton, unchain, unclasp, unglue, unhitch, unhook, unlace, unlash, unlatch, unlock, unpin, unscrew, unsnap, unstick, unstrap, untie
Contrasted words: bind, engage, fasten, fix, secure
4.
Synonyms: shoot 1, discharge, fire
5.
to make less rigid or tight
exercise loosed his muscles
Synonyms: ease, ease off, lax, loosen, relax, slack, slacken, untighten
Related Word: abate, alleviate, bate, lessen, let up, mitigate
Contrasted words: anchor, cement, clamp, clinch, fasten, knit, secure, set, tauten
Antonyms: tighten