Definition of loose

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loose    (ls) KEY 

ADJECTIVE:
loos·er, loos·est

1. Not fastened, restrained, or contained: loose bricks.
2. Not taut, fixed, or rigid: a loose anchor line; a loose chair leg.
3. Free from confinement or imprisonment; unfettered: criminals loose in the neighborhood; dogs that are loose on the streets.
4. Not tight-fitting or tightly fitted: loose shoes.
5. Not bound, bundled, stapled, or gathered together: loose papers.
6. Not compact or dense in arrangement or structure: loose gravel.
7. Lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility; idle: loose talk.
8. Not formal; relaxed: a loose atmosphere at the club.
9. Lacking conventional moral restraint in sexual behavior.
10. Not literal or exact: a loose translation.
11. Characterized by a free movement of fluids in the body: a loose cough; loose bowels.

ADVERB:

In a loose manner.

VERB:
loosed, loos·ing, loos·es
VERB:
tr.

1. To let loose; release: loosed the dogs.
2. To make loose; undo: loosed his belt.
3. To cast loose; detach: hikers loosing their packs at camp.
4. To let fly; discharge: loosed an arrow.
5. To release pressure or obligation from; absolve: loosed her from the responsibility.
6. To make less strict; relax: a leader's strong authority that was loosed by easy times.

VERB:
intr.

1. To become loose.
2. To discharge a missile; fire.

IDIOM:
on the loose

1. At large; free.
2. Acting in an uninhibited fashion.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English louse, los, from Old Norse lauss; see leu- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
loosely(Adverb), looseness(Noun)

SYNONYMS:
loose, lax, slack¹

These adjectives mean not tautly bound, held, or fastened: loose reins; a lax rope; slack sails.
Antonym: tight