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   loose

   /lo͞os/

   adjective

   • 1. not firmly or tightly fixed in place; detached or able to be detached: "a loose tooth" Similar not fixed in placenot secureinsecureunsecuredunattacheddetachedunfastenedwobblyricketyunsteadymovableOpposite securetight
   • ▪ not held or tied together; not packaged or placed in a container: "wear your hair loose" Similar untiedunpinnedunboundhanging freedownflowingfloppy
   • ▪ (of a person or animal) free from confinement; not bound or tethered: "the bull was loose with cattle in the field" Similar freeat largeat libertyon the looseescapedunconfineduntiedunchaineduntetheredunsecuredunshackledunfastenedunrestrictedunboundfreedlet goliberatedreleasedset looseOpposite secure
   • ▪ (of feces) containing excessive liquid: "many patients report loose bowel movements"
   • ▪ (of the ball or puck in a game) in play but not in any player's possession.
   • 2. (of a garment) not fitting tightly or closely: "she slipped into a loose T-shirt and shorts" Similar baggyloose-fittingeasy-fittinggenerously cutslackroomyboyfriendoversizedshapelessbagginglaxhangingsaggingsloppyslouchyOpposite tight
   • 3. not close or compact in structure: "a loose weave"
   • ▪ not rigidly organized: "a loose federation of political groups"
   • ▪ relaxed; physically slack: "she swung back into her easy, loose stride"
   • 4. not strict or exact: "a loose interpretation" Similar vagueindefiniteinexactimpreciseill-definedunrigorousunmeticulousbroadgeneralroughnonspecificinexplicitliberalOpposite literalnarrow
   • ▪ careless and indiscreet in what is said: "there is too much loose talk about the situation"
   • 5. engaging in casual sexual encounters or relationships: dated, derogatory "she ran the risk of being called a loose woman"

   verb

   • 1. set free; release: "the hounds have been loosed" Similar freeset freeunlooseturn looseset looselet looselet goreleaseliberateuntieunchainunfetteruntetherunfastenunpenunleashunclickOpposite confine
   • ▪ untie; unfasten: "the ropes were loosed"
   • ▪ relax (one's grip): "he loosed his grip suddenly" Similar relaxslackenloosenweakenlessenreducediminishmoderatesoftenOpposite tighten

   Word Origin Middle Englishloos ‘free from bonds’, from Old Norse lauss, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German los.

   Derivatives

   • 1. looseness noun

   Scrabble Points: 5

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   • O

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