/
luːs/
adj.
     - not firmly or tightly fixed in place. ▸not held, tied, or packaged together. ▸not bound or tethered. ▸(of the ball in a game) in play but not in any player's possession. 
- not fitting tightly or closely.
- not dense or compact. ▸(of play, especially in rugby) with the players far apart. 
- relaxed; physically slack. ▸not strict or exact. ▸careless and indiscreet: ![]()  loose talk. 
- dated promiscuous:![]()  a loose woman. 
n.
 
(
the loose)
 
Rugby  loose play.
v.
  - set free. ▸untie; unfasten. ▸relax (one's grip). 
- 
(usu. loose something off)
 discharge; fire.
Phrase
- hang loose
 informal, chiefly N. Amer. remain calm and untroubled.
- on the loose
 having escaped from confinement.
Derivative
- loosely adv.
- looseness n.
Usage
The words loose and lose should not be confused: see usage at lose.
Etymology
ME loos ‘free from bonds’, from ON lauss, of Gmc origin.