loose

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   without restraint

   cows in India are running loose

2. 2
   adj

   not affixed

   the stamp came loose

3. 3
   adj

   not compact or dense in structure or arrangement

   loose gravel

4. 4
   adj

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

   a loose ball

5. 5
   adj

   emptying easily or excessively

   loose bowels

6. 6
   adj

   not literal

   They gave us a loose interpretation of what they had been told.

7. 7
   adj

   not carefully arranged in a package

   a box of loose nails

8. 8
   adj

   full of small openings or gaps

   The sweater was made of a fabric with a very loose weave.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Old Norse laussbor. Middle English loos English loose From Middle English loos, los, lous, from Old Norse lauss, from Proto-Germanic *lausaz, whence also -less, leasing; from Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- (“to untie, set free, separate”), whence also lyo-, -lysis, via Ancient Greek.