adj., n., & v.
--adj.
1. a not or no longer held by bonds or restraint. b (of an animal) not confined or tethered etc.
2 detached or detachable from its place (has come loose).
3 not held together or contained or fixed.
4 not specially fastened or packaged (loose papers; had her hair loose).
5 hanging partly free (a loose end).
6 slack, relaxed; not tense or tight.
7 not compact or dense (loose soil).
8 (of language, concepts, etc.) inexact; conveying only the general sense.
9 (preceding an agent noun) doing the expressed action in a loose or careless manner (a loose thinker).
10 morally lax; dissolute (loose living).
11 (of the tongue) likely to speak indiscreetly.
12 (of the bowels) tending to diarrhoea.
13 Sport a (of a ball) in play but not in any player's possession. b (of play etc.) with the players not close together.
14 Cricket a (of bowling) inaccurately pitched. b (of fielding) careless or bungling.
15 (in comb.) loosely (loose-flowing; loose-fitting).
--n.
1. a state of freedom or unrestrainedness.
2 loose play in football (in the loose).
3 free expression.
--v.tr.
1. release; set free; free from constraint.
2 untie or undo (something that constrains).
3 detach from moorings.
4 relax (loosed my hold on it).
5 discharge (a gun or arrow etc.).
Phrases and idioms:
at a loose end (US at loose ends) (of a person) unoccupied, esp. temporarily. loose box a compartment for a horse, in a stable or vehicle, in which it can move about. loose change money as coins in the pocket etc. for casual use. loose cover Brit. a removable cover for a chair or sofa etc. loose-leaf adj. (of a notebook, manual, etc.) with each leaf separate and removable.
--n. a loose-leaf notebook etc. loose-limbed having supple limbs. loose order an arrangement of soldiers etc. with wide intervals. on the loose
1. escaped from captivity.
2 having a free enjoyable time.
Derivatives:
loosely adv. looseness n. loosish adj.
Etymology: ME los f. ON lauss f. Gmc