1loose 
/ˈlu:s/ adjective
loos·er; loos·est /ˈlu:s/ adjective 1 : not tightly fastened, attached, or held
▪ a loose tooth ▪ a loose thread ▪ Some of the shingles on the roof were loose. ▪ The rope was tied in a loose knot. ▪ The nails had been pried loose. ▪ Some of the shingles had come/worked loose. ▪ The boat came loose from its moorings and floated out into the harbor. ▪ The ball popped loose from the shortstop's glove. 2 a : not pulled or stretched tight
▪ a loose belt ▪ loose reins on a horse ▪ loose skin
b of clothing : not fitting close to your body : not tight
▪ She was wearing a loose dress/skirt. ▪ a loose [=baggy] sweater 3 : not physically held or contained
▪ The dog was wandering loose in the streets. ▪ The lion had somehow gotten/broken loose [=free] from its cage. — see also let loose 1 (below) 4 a : not held together in a solid or tight mass
▪ loose dirt ▪ loose rocks ▪ loose sandy soil
b : not held together in a bundle, container, etc.
▪ loose sheets of pages ▪ Loose hairs stuck out from under his cap. ▪ She let her hair hang down loose. ▪ You can buy a bag of potatoes or some loose potatoes. 5 : not stiff or tense : flexible or relaxed
▪ He walked with a loose stride. ▪ loose muscles ▪ I never relaxed that day; I just couldn't get loose. ▪ Runners should warm up for a few minutes to get loose. ▪ I tried to stay loose during the game, but I was too nervous. — see also hang loose (below) 6 : not closely joined or united
▪ Ten advocacy groups from all parts of the country formed a loose alliance/association/coalition to present their shared interests to Congress. 7 a : not exact or precise
▪ a very loose translation ▪ a loose interpretation of the law ▪ This book is only a novel in the loose sense of the word. [=the word “novel” does not usually refer to a book like this; many people would not consider the book a novel]
b : not careful in speech : talking too freely
▪ Loose [=careless] talk spread the rumor. ▪ She has a loose tongue. [=she talks too much about things that are private, secret, etc.] 8 sports : not controlled or held by any of the players in a game
▪ a loose ball/puck 9 old-fashioned : not respectable sexually : not decent or moral
▪ He was accused of loose conduct/behavior. ▪ a loose woman ▪ loose morals 10 of solid waste from the body : containing a larger than normal amount of fluid
▪ loose stools ; also : producing loose stools
▪ loose bowels ▪ loose bowel movements
▪ a loose tooth ▪ a loose thread ▪ Some of the shingles on the roof were loose. ▪ The rope was tied in a loose knot. ▪ The nails had been pried loose. ▪ Some of the shingles had come/worked loose. ▪ The boat came loose from its moorings and floated out into the harbor. ▪ The ball popped loose from the shortstop's glove.
▪ a loose belt ▪ loose reins on a horse ▪ loose skin
b of clothing : not fitting close to your body : not tight
▪ She was wearing a loose dress/skirt. ▪ a loose [=baggy] sweater
▪ The dog was wandering loose in the streets. ▪ The lion had somehow gotten/broken loose [=free] from its cage. — see also let loose 1 (below)
▪ loose dirt ▪ loose rocks ▪ loose sandy soil
b : not held together in a bundle, container, etc.
▪ loose sheets of pages ▪ Loose hairs stuck out from under his cap. ▪ She let her hair hang down loose. ▪ You can buy a bag of potatoes or some loose potatoes.
▪ He walked with a loose stride. ▪ loose muscles ▪ I never relaxed that day; I just couldn't get loose. ▪ Runners should warm up for a few minutes to get loose. ▪ I tried to stay loose during the game, but I was too nervous. — see also hang loose (below)
▪ Ten advocacy groups from all parts of the country formed a loose alliance/association/coalition to present their shared interests to Congress.
▪ a very loose translation ▪ a loose interpretation of the law ▪ This book is only a novel in the loose sense of the word. [=the word “novel” does not usually refer to a book like this; many people would not consider the book a novel]
b : not careful in speech : talking too freely
▪ Loose [=careless] talk spread the rumor. ▪ She has a loose tongue. [=she talks too much about things that are private, secret, etc.]
▪ a loose ball/puck
▪ He was accused of loose conduct/behavior. ▪ a loose woman ▪ loose morals
▪ loose stools ; also : producing loose stools
▪ loose bowels ▪ loose bowel movements
all hell breaks loose — see hell
break loose — see 1break
cut loose 1 cut (someone) loose : to stop supporting or employing (someone)
▪ He worked here for a few years but he didn't do a good job, so we finally had to cut him loose. : to end an official relationship or agreement with (someone) ▪ She's been cut loose from her contract. [=the company/organization with whom she had a contract to work has ended the contract] 2 chiefly US, informal : to act in a free and relaxed way after behaving in a way that is controlled
▪ I enjoy cutting loose with friends on weekends.
▪ He worked here for a few years but he didn't do a good job, so we finally had to cut him loose. : to end an official relationship or agreement with (someone) ▪ She's been cut loose from her contract. [=the company/organization with whom she had a contract to work has ended the contract]
▪ I enjoy cutting loose with friends on weekends.
hang loose
chiefly US, informal : to remain calm and relaxed
▪ Just hang loose for a minute. I'll be right back.
▪ Just hang loose for a minute. I'll be right back.
have a screw loose, have a loose screw — see 1screw
let loose 1 let (someone or something) loose or set/turn (someone or something) loose : to allow (someone or something) to move or go freely
▪ He let/set the dogs loose in the courtyard. ▪ cattle let loose to graze on the green fields — often used figuratively ▪ It's the end of the school year, when schools turn students loose on our towns. ▪ a director who's willing to let her actors loose to interpret their roles however they see fit ▪ how to stop the violence that has been let loose [=loosed] on the city 2 : to produce (something, such as a cry) in a sudden and forceful way
▪ The crowd let loose [=let out] an enormous groan when the pass was intercepted. ▪ She let loose (with) a scream.
▪ He let/set the dogs loose in the courtyard. ▪ cattle let loose to graze on the green fields — often used figuratively ▪ It's the end of the school year, when schools turn students loose on our towns. ▪ a director who's willing to let her actors loose to interpret their roles however they see fit ▪ how to stop the violence that has been let loose [=loosed] on the city
▪ The crowd let loose [=let out] an enormous groan when the pass was intercepted. ▪ She let loose (with) a scream.
play fast and loose — see 1play
— loose·ly adverb
▪ The clothes fit loosely. ▪ The term is loosely used by most people. ▪ The rider held the reins loosely as the horse slowed to a walk. ▪ loosely affiliated/allied businesses ▪ The company was loosely organized. ▪ The movie is loosely based on the novel. [=it is based on the novel but many things are different in the movie]
▪ The clothes fit loosely. ▪ The term is loosely used by most people. ▪ The rider held the reins loosely as the horse slowed to a walk. ▪ loosely affiliated/allied businesses ▪ The company was loosely organized. ▪ The movie is loosely based on the novel. [=it is based on the novel but many things are different in the movie]
— loose·ness noun [noncount]
▪ moral looseness ▪ the looseness of the translation ▪ the looseness of his clothing
▪ moral looseness ▪ the looseness of the translation ▪ the looseness of his clothing
