adjective, verb, noun
adjective (looser, loosest)
not fixed / tied
1 not firmly fixed where it should be; able to become separated from sth:
a loose button / tooth * Check that the plug has not come loose.
2 not tied together; not held in position by anything or contained in anything:
She usually wears her hair loose. * The potatoes were sold loose, not in bags.
3 [notusuallybeforenoun] free to move around without control; not tied up or shut in somewhere:
The sheep had got out and were loose on the road. * The horse had broken loose (= escaped) from its tether. * During the night, somebody had cut the boat loose from its moorings.
clothes
4 not fitting closely:
a loose jacket / shirt * The jeans are a little on the loose side.
OPPTIGHT
not solid / hard
5 not tightly packed together; not solid or hard:
loose soil * a fabric with a loose weave
not strict / exact
6 not strictly organized or controlled:
a loose alliance / coalition / federation * a loose association of artists, writers and composers
7 not exact; not very careful:
a loose translation * loose thinking
immoral
8 [usuallybeforenoun] (old-fashioned) having or involving an attitude to sexual relationships that people consider to be immoral:
a young man of loose morals
ball
9 (sport) not in any player's control:
He pounced on a loose ball.
body waste
10 having too much liquid in it:
a baby with loose bowel movements
looseness noun [U]
IDIOMS
break / cut / tear (sth) loose from sb/sth to separate yourself or sb/sth from a group of people or their influence, etc:
The organization broke loose from its sponsors. * He cut himself loose from his family.
hang / stay loose (informal, especially AmE) to remain calm; to not worry:
It's OK-hang loose and stay cool.
have a loose tongue to talk too much, especially about things that are private
let loose (BrE) (AmE cut loose) (informal) to do sth or to happen in a way that is not controlled:
Teenagers need a place to let loose.
let loose sth to make a noise or remark, especially in a loud or sudden way:
She let loose a stream of abuse.
let sb/sth loose
1 to free sb/sth from whatever holds them/it in place:
She let her hair loose and it fell around her shoulders. * Who's let the dog loose?
2 to give sb complete freedom to do what they want in a place or situation:
He was at last let loose in the kitchen. * A team of professionals were let loose on the project.
moreatFASTadv., HELL, SCREWn.
verb [VN] (formal)
release
1 ~ sth (on / upon sb/sth) to release sth or let it happen or be expressed in an uncontrolled way:
His speech loosed a tide of nationalist sentiment.
make sth loose
2 to make sth loose, especially sth that is tied or held tightly:
He loosed the straps that bound her arms.
fire bullets
3 ~ sth (off) (at sb/sth) to fire bullets, arrows, etc.
HELPNOTE Do not confuse this verb with to lose = 'to be unable to find sth'.
