Loose meaning

What does “loose” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“loose” is a verb, adjective and adverb with 18 meanings. Its most common meaning is: grant freedom to; free from confinement.

loose

grant freedom to; free from confinement
Synonymsfree liberate release unloose unloosen
turn loose or free from restraint
“let loose mines”
“Loose terrible plagues upon humanity”
Synonymsunleash let loose
make loose or looser
“loosen the tension on a rope”
Synonymsloosen
become loose or looser or less tight
“The noose loosened”
“the rope relaxed”
Synonymsloosen relax

not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
“loose gravel”
Oppositescompact
(of a ball in sport) not in the possession or control of any player
“a loose ball”
not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting
“loose clothing”
“the large shoes were very loose”
Oppositestight
not officially recognized or controlled
“an informal agreement”
“a loose organization of the local farmers”
Synonymsinformal
not literal
“a loose interpretation of what she had been told”
“a free translation of the poem”
Synonymsfree liberal
emptying easily or excessively
“loose bowels”
Synonymslax
not affixed
“the stamp came loose”
Synonymsunaffixed
not tense or taut
“the old man's skin hung loose and grey”
“slack and wrinkled skin”
Synonymsslack
(of textures) full of small openings or gaps
“an open texture”
“a loose weave”
Synonymsopen
lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility
“idle talk”
“a loose tongue”
Synonymsidle
not carefully arranged in a package
“a box of loose nails”
having escaped, especially from confinement
“a convict still at large”
“searching for two escaped prisoners”
Synonymsat large escaped on the loose
casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
“her easy virtue”
“he was told to avoid loose (or light) women”
Synonymseasy light promiscuous sluttish wanton

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University