loose

/lu:s/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
loose

A child's shoelace is loose.

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.
loose

A child's shoelace is 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

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