Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Not firmly or tightly fixed in place; detached or able to be detached: Describes something not securely attached, allowing movement or separation.
   • Not fitting closely or tightly: Describes clothing or items that are not tight or constricting.
   • Not strict, exact, or precise: Refers to interpretations, translations, or arrangements that are not rigidly defined or controlled.
   • Relaxed or not tense: Describes a physical state of being slack or not taut.
   • Promiscuous or morally unrestrained: An archaic or formal use describing lax sexual morals or behavior.
   • Not compact or dense: Describes a material structure with gaps or a lack of cohesion.

2. Adverb:

   • In a loose manner; without restraint: Describes the state of being free, unrestricted, or not confined.

3. Verb (transitive):

   • To set free; release from restraint: To liberate or untie.
   • To make less tight, firm, or compact; to loosen: To relax tension or fastening.
   • To discharge or release (e.g., a projectile): To let fly, as an arrow or a shot.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • One of the buttons on my shirt is loose.
  • She prefers to wear loose clothing when exercising.
  • That's a very loose translation of the original poem.
  • The dog broke loose from its leash. (Here, "loose" functions as a predicate adjective after "broke".)
• Adverb:
  • The animals were turned loose in the field.
• Verb:
  • He loosed the dog from its chain.
  • The archer loosed an arrow at the target.

Advanced Usage

• "At a loose end" (idiom, chiefly British): Having nothing to do; feeling bored or unoccupied.
  • I'm at a loose end this weekend with no plans.
• "On the loose" (idiom): Escaped or free from confinement; also used figuratively to describe someone behaving in an unrestrained, often wild manner.
  • Three prisoners are on the loose.
  • He's on the loose in the city for his bachelor party.
• "Loose tongue" (idiom): A tendency to talk too much, especially about secrets.
  • Be careful what you tell him; he has a loose tongue.
• "Play fast and loose" (idiom): To behave in a deceitful, irresponsible, or unreliable way.
  • The company has been accused of playing fast and loose with environmental regulations.

Variants and Related Words

• Loosen (verb): To make or become less tight or firm. (Note: This is the more common verb form in modern English, while "loose" as a verb is less frequent and often more literary.)
  • Please loosen the screw a little.
• Loosely (adverb): In a loose manner.
  • The rules are only loosely enforced.
• Looseness (noun): The quality or state of being loose.
  • The looseness of the connection caused the problem.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Slack, baggy, unfastened, untied, free, vague, imprecise, promiscuous.
• Verb: Release, free, untie, undo, let go, discharge.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• Cut loose: To free from restraints; to start enjoying oneself freely.
  • After the exams, we really cut loose and celebrated.
• Let loose / Set loose: To allow to be free; to release.
  • They let the balloons loose into the sky.
  • The news set loose a wave of panic.

Related Idioms

• Loose cannon: A person whose behavior is unpredictable and who may cause damage.
  • The politician is considered a loose cannon by his own party.
• Loose change: Coins of small value.
  • I only have a few dollars in loose change.
• All hell broke loose: A situation suddenly became chaotic and noisy.
  • When the fire alarm went off, all hell broke loose.

Adjective

1. casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
   • her easy virtue
   • he was told to avoid loose (or light) women
   • wanton behavior
2. having escaped, especially from confinement
   • a convict still at large
   • searching for two escaped prisoners
   • dogs loose on the streets
   • criminals on the loose in the neighborhood
3. not carefully arranged in a package
   • a box of loose nails
4. lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility
   • idle talk
   • a loose tongue
5. (of textures) full of small openings or gaps
   • an open texture
   • a loose weave
6. not tense or taut
   • the old man's skin hung loose and grey
   • slack and wrinkled skin
   • slack sails
   • a slack rope
7. not affixed
   • the stamp came loose
8. emptying easily or excessively
   • loose bowels
9. not literal
   • a loose interpretation of what she had been told
   • a free translation of the poem
10. not officially recognized or controlled
    • an informal agreement
    • a loose organization of the local farmers
11. not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting
    • loose clothing
    • the large shoes were very loose
12. (of a ball in sport) not in the possession or control of any player
    • a loose ball
13. not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
    • loose gravel

Adverb

1. without restraint
   • cows in India are running loose

Verb

1. become loose or looser or less tight
   • The noose loosened
   • the rope relaxed
2. make loose or looser
   • loosen the tension on a rope
3. turn loose or free from restraint
   • let loose mines
   • Loose terrible plagues upon humanity
4. grant freedom to; free from confinement