loose

loose

verb

Definition of LOOSE

1

to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force <the archers loosed a great volley of arrows at the foot soldiers charging towards them>

Synonyms blast, discharge, fire, loose, squeeze off

Related Words launch, project; blaze (at), snipe (at); cast, catapult, fling, heave, hurl, hurtle, lob, pelt, pitch, sling, throw, toss

2

to find emotional release for <do not loose your pent-up frustrations on the next person who happens by>

Synonyms loose, release, unleash, vent

Related Words act out; air, express, state, ventilate, voice

Near Antonyms control, govern, handle, manage; bridle, check, constrain, contain, curb, hold back, pull in, quell, rein (in), restrain, smother, tame; allay, lull, quiet, soothe, still; choke, inhibit, muffle, pocket, repress, stifle, strangle, swallow

Antonyms bottle (up), repress, suppress

3

to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <animal-rights activists loosed the monkeys from their laboratory cages>

Synonyms discharge, disenthrall (also disenthral), emancipate, enfranchise, enlarge, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

Related Words bail (out), deliver, parole, ransom, redeem, rescue, save; adrift, disembarrass, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, extricate; unshackle

Near Antonyms handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel; commit, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, lock (up); conquer, enslave, subdue, subjugate

Antonyms bind, confine, enchain, fetter, restrain

4

to set free (from a state of being held in check) <the storm loosed its full fury when it hit the coastline at high tide>

Synonyms loose, loosen, uncork, unleash, unlock, unloose, unloosen

Related Words discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, free, liberate, manumit, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter, unmoor, unshackle; air, express, take out, vent

Near Antonyms handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel; bind, confine, enchain, fetter; halter, hamper

Antonyms bridle, check, constrain, contain, control, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, regulate, rein (in), restrain, smother, tame