loosely

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   knitted in a loose manner

   loosely knit

2. 2
   adv

   in a loose manner

   a union of loosely federated states

3. 3
   adv

   In a loose manner.

   Then she fell back on the altar and her fingers dangled loosely on its edge, her feet uncrossed and lay beside each other.

4. 4
   adv

   Not tightly.

   Insert all the bolts loosely, then tighten them.

5. 5
   adv

   Approximately.

   It's red, to use the term loosely, sort of brown and sort of orange, let's call it reddish.

6. 6
   adv

   Used to indicate an imprecise use of words; short for loosely speaking

   A whale is, loosely, maybe very loosely, a fish.

7. 7
   adv

   in a relaxed manner

8. 8
   adv

   without regard to specific details or exceptions

Etymology

From Middle English lously; equivalent to loose + -ly.