English adjective: loose | |||
1. | loose not compact or dense in structure or arrangement | ||
Samples | Loose gravel. | ||
Similar | light, shifting, silty, unconsolidated, unfirm | ||
Antonyms | compact | ||
2. | loose (of a ball in sport) not in the possession or control of any player | ||
Samples | A loose ball. | ||
Similar | uncontrolled | ||
Domain category | athletics, sport | ||
Antonyms | controlled | ||
3. | loose not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting | ||
Samples | Loose clothing. The large shoes were very loose. | ||
Similar | baggy, flyaway, loose-fitting, sloppy | ||
See also | lax | ||
Antonyms | tight | ||
4. | loose not officially recognized or controlled | ||
Samples | An informal agreement. A loose organization of the local farmers. | ||
Synonyms | informal | ||
Similar | unofficial | ||
Antonyms | official | ||
5. | loose not literal | ||
Samples | A loose interpretation of what she had been told. A free translation of the poem. | ||
Synonyms | free, liberal | ||
Similar | inexact | ||
Antonyms | exact | ||
6. | loose emptying easily or excessively | ||
Samples | Loose bowels. | ||
Synonyms | lax | ||
Similar | regular, unconstipated | ||
Antonyms | constipated | ||
7. | loose not affixed | ||
Samples | The stamp came loose. | ||
Synonyms | unaffixed | ||
Antonyms | affixed | ||
8. | loose not tense or taut | ||
Samples | The old man's skin hung loose and grey. Slack and wrinkled skin. Slack sails. A slack rope. | ||
Synonyms | slack | ||
Similar | lax | ||
Antonyms | tense | ||
9. | loose (of textures) full of small openings or gaps | ||
Samples | An open texture. A loose weave. | ||
Synonyms | open | ||
Similar | coarse, harsh | ||
Antonyms | fine | ||
10. | loose lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility | ||
Samples | Idle talk. A loose tongue. | ||
Synonyms | idle | ||
Similar | irresponsible | ||
Antonyms | responsible | ||
11. | loose not carefully arranged in a package | ||
Samples | A box of loose nails. | ||
Similar | unpackaged | ||
Antonyms | packaged | ||
12. | loose having escaped, especially from confinement | ||
Samples | A convict still at large. Searching for two escaped prisoners. Dogs loose on the streets. Criminals on the loose in the neighborhood. | ||
Synonyms | at large, escaped, on the loose | ||
Similar | free | ||
Antonyms | unfree | ||
13. | loose casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior | ||
Samples | Her easy virtue. He was told to avoid loose (or light) women. Wanton behavior. | ||
Synonyms | easy, light, promiscuous, sluttish, wanton | ||
Similar | unchaste | ||
Antonyms | chaste | ||
English adverb: loose | |||
1. | loose without restraint | ||
Samples | Cows in India are running loose. | ||
Synonyms | free | ||
English verb: loose | |||
1. | loose (social) grant freedom to; free from confinement | ||
Examples | They want to loose the prisoners | ||
Synonyms | free, liberate, release, unloose, unloosen | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | bail, bail out, parole, run, unchain, unspell | ||
Antonyms | detain, confine | ||
2. | loose (contact) turn loose or free from restraint | ||
Samples | Let loose mines. Loose terrible plagues upon humanity. | ||
Synonyms | let loose, unleash | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | let go, let go of, release, relinquish | ||
3. | loose (change) make loose or looser | ||
Samples | Loosen the tension on a rope. | ||
Synonyms | loosen | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | relax, remit, slack, slacken, unbend, unscrew, unscrew | ||
Cause | loose, loosen, relax | ||
Antonyms | stiffen | ||
4. | loose (change) become loose or looser or less tight | ||
Samples | The noose loosened. The rope relaxed. | ||
Synonyms | loosen, relax | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | weaken | ||
Antonyms | stiffen | ||