ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ adjective
1.
a. : having leaves secured in book form in a mechanical cover whose backbone may be opened for the removal, rearrangement, or replacement of leaves
a loose-leaf notebook
a loose-leaf ledger
a loose-leaf encyclopedia
— compare post binder , ring binder , spring binder
b. : of, belonging to, or using articles having such leaves
loose-leaf paper
loose-leaf systems in bookkeeping
2. : concerned with or used in the sale of tobacco as loose hands rather than in packed hogsheads
a loose-leaf auction
the hogshead and loose-leaf systems of marketing — Experiment Station Record
make purchases … in the many loose-leaf warehouses — Burley Tobacco Grower