/
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.