English dictionary



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English adjective: loose

1. loose not compact or dense in structure or arrangement


SamplesLoose gravel.


Similarlight, shifting, silty, unconsolidated, unfirm


Antonymscompact

2. loose (of a ball in sport) not in the possession or control of any player


SamplesA loose ball.


Similaruncontrolled


Domain categoryathletics, sport


Antonymscontrolled

3. loose not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting


SamplesLoose clothing.
The large shoes were very loose.


Similarbaggy, flyaway, loose-fitting, sloppy


See alsolax


Antonymstight

4. loose not officially recognized or controlled


SamplesAn informal agreement.
A loose organization of the local farmers.


Synonymsinformal


Similarunofficial


Antonymsofficial

5. loose not literal


SamplesA loose interpretation of what she had been told.
A free translation of the poem.


Synonymsfree, liberal


Similarinexact


Antonymsexact

6. loose emptying easily or excessively


SamplesLoose bowels.


Synonymslax


Similarregular, unconstipated


Antonymsconstipated

7. loose not affixed


SamplesThe stamp came loose.


Synonymsunaffixed


Antonymsaffixed

8. loose not tense or taut


SamplesThe old man's skin hung loose and grey.
Slack and wrinkled skin.
Slack sails.
A slack rope.


Synonymsslack


Similarlax


Antonymstense

9. loose (of textures) full of small openings or gaps


SamplesAn open texture.
A loose weave.


Synonymsopen


Similarcoarse, harsh


Antonymsfine

10. loose lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility


SamplesIdle talk.
A loose tongue.


Synonymsidle


Similarirresponsible


Antonymsresponsible

11. loose not carefully arranged in a package


SamplesA box of loose nails.


Similarunpackaged


Antonymspackaged

12. loose having escaped, especially from confinement


SamplesA convict still at large.
Searching for two escaped prisoners.
Dogs loose on the streets.
Criminals on the loose in the neighborhood.


Synonymsat large, escaped, on the loose


Similarfree


Antonymsunfree

13. loose casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior


SamplesHer easy virtue.
He was told to avoid loose (or light) women.
Wanton behavior.


Synonymseasy, light, promiscuous, sluttish, wanton


Similarunchaste


Antonymschaste


English adverb: loose

1. loose without restraint


SamplesCows in India are running loose.


Synonymsfree


English verb: loose

1. loose (social) grant freedom to; free from confinement


ExamplesThey want to loose the prisoners


Synonymsfree, liberate, release, unloose, unloosen


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s somebody


Narrower (hyponym)bail, bail out, parole, run, unchain, unspell


Antonymsdetain, confine

2. loose (contact) turn loose or free from restraint


SamplesLet loose mines.
Loose terrible plagues upon humanity.


Synonymslet loose, unleash


Pattern of useSomebody ----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


SamplesLoosen the tension on a rope.


Synonymsloosen


Pattern of useSomebody ----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


Causeloose, loosen, relax


Antonymsstiffen

4. loose (change) become loose or looser or less tight


SamplesThe noose loosened.
The rope relaxed.


Synonymsloosen, relax


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)weaken


Antonymsstiffen









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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