- not securely fixed where it should be; able to become separated from something
- a loose button/tooth
- Check that the plug has not come loose.
- One of the bricks feels slightly loose.
- Darien shook his arm loose.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- seem
- …
- rather
- a little
- slightly
- …
- not tied together; not held in position by anything or contained in anything
- She usually wears her hair loose.
- He tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear.
- The potatoes were sold loose, not in bags.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- fall
- hang
- …
- [not usually before noun] 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.
- The animals ran loose without collars or leashes.
- During the night, somebody had cut the boat loose from its moorings.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- break
- cut
- …
- not fitting closely
- On long flights, wear loose clothing and comfortable shoes.
- a loose shirt
- not tightly packed together; not solid or hard
- loose soil
- a fabric with a loose weave
- not strictly organized or managed
- a loose alliance/coalition/federation
- a loose association of artists, writers and composers
- not exact; not very careful
- This is only a loose translation as I am not fluent in Japanese.
- This book is an antidote for much of the loose thinking in the world of today.
- The committees work within fairly loose guidelines.
- [usually before noun] (old-fashioned) having or involving an attitude to sexual relationships that people consider to be morally wrong
- a young man of loose morals
- (sport) not in any player’s control
- He pounced on a loose ball.
- having too much liquid in it
- a baby with loose bowel movements
not fixed/tied
clothes
not solid/hard
not strict/exact
not moral
ball
body waste
Word OriginMiddle English loos ‘free from bonds’, from Old Norse lauss, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German los.
Idioms
See loose in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee loose in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishall hell broke loose
- (informal) suddenly there was a lot of noise, arguing, fighting, etc.
- There was a loud bang and then all hell broke loose.
break/cut (somebody/something) loose from somebody/something
- to separate yourself or somebody/something 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
- (especially North American English, informal) 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
have a screw loose
- (informal) to be slightly strange in your behaviour
let loose (British English)
(North American English cut loose)
- (informal) to do something or to happen in a way that no one controls
- Teenagers need a place to let loose.
let loose something
- to make a noise or remark, especially in a loud or sudden way
- She let loose a stream of abuse.
let somebody/something loose
- to free somebody/something from whatever holds them/it in place
- She let her hair loose and it fell around her shoulders.
- Who's let the dog loose?
- to give somebody 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.
play fast and loose (with somebody/something)
- (old-fashioned) to treat somebody/something in a way that shows that you feel no responsibility or respect for them
Check pronunciation:
loose