Legal Dictionary

loose

Definition of loose

Etymology

    Old Norse lauss

Pronunciation

Verb

to loose (third-person singular simple present looses, present participle loosing, simple past and past participle loosed)

  1. (transitive) To let loose, to free from restraints.
  2. (transitive) To unfasten, to loosen.
  3. (transitive) To make less tight, to loosen.
  4. (intransitive) Of a grip or hold, to let go.
  5. (archery) to shoot (an arrow)

Usage notes

  • Do not confuse loose with lose.

Synonyms

  • (let loose): free, release
  • (unfasten): loosen, unbind, undo, unfasten, untie
  • (make less tight): loosen, relax, slacken
  • (of grip or hold): let go, release
  • (archery): fire, shoot

Antonyms

  • (let loose):: bind, constrain
  • (unfasten):: bind, fasten, tie
  • (make less tight):: tighten
  • (of grip or hold):: tighten
  • (archery): fast

Adjective

loose (comparative looser, superlative loosest)

  1. Not fixed in place tightly or firmly

    This wheelbarrow has a loose wheel

  2. Not held or packaged together

    You can buy apples in a pack, but they are cheaper loose

  3. Not bound or tethered or leashed

    The dog is loose again

  4. Not fitting closely

    I wear loose clothes when it is hot

  5. Not compact

    It is difficult walking on loose gravel

  6. relaxed

    She danced with a loose flowing movement

  7. indiscreet

    Loose talk costs lives

  8. (dated) promiscuous

    She is a loose woman

Synonyms

  • (not held or packaged together): separate, unpackaged
  • (not bound or tethered or leashed): free, untethered
  • (not fitting closely): baggy
  • (relaxed): loose-limbed, relaxed
  • (indiscreet): indiscreet
  • (promiscuous): polygamous, promiscuous, slutty, tarty, whorish

Antonyms

  • (not held or packaged together): packaged
  • (not bound or tethered or leashed): bound, leashed, tethered, tied, tied up
  • (not fitting closely): close-fitting, snug, tight
  • (not compact): compact, firm
  • (relaxed): tense, tensed
  • (indiscreet): discreet
  • (promiscuous): faithful, monogamous

Interjection

loose

  1. (archery) begin shooting; release your arrows

Antonyms

  • (archery: begin shooting): fast

References:

  1. Wiktionary. Published under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.



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