looser; loosest
Definition of loose
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: not rigidly fastened or securely attached
loose planks in a bridge
b(1)
: having worked partly free from attachments
a loose tooth
(2)
: having relative freedom of movement
c
: produced freely and accompanied by raising of mucus
a loose cough
d
: not tight-fitting
loose clothing
2a
: free from a state of confinement, restraint, or obligation
a lion loose in the streets spend loose funds wisely
b
: not brought together in a bundle, container, or binding
3a
: not dense, close, or compact in structure or arrangement
loose soil
b
: not solid : watery
loose stools
4a
: lacking in restraint or power of restraint
a loose tongue
b
: lacking moral restraint : unchaste
6a
: lacking in precision, exactness, or care
loose brushwork loose usage
b
: permitting freedom of interpretation
a loose construction of the Constitution
7
: not in the possession of either of two competing teams
a loose ball a loose puck
loose
verb
loosed; loosing
Definition of loose (Entry 2 of 3)
1a
: to let loose (see loose entry 1) : release
loosed the dogs on the prowlers
b
: to free from restraint
2
: to make loose : untie
loose a knot
5
: to make less rigid, tight, or strict : relax
loosed his grip
: to let fly a missile (such as an arrow) : fire
loose
adverbDefinition of loose (Entry 3 of 3)
: in a loose manner (see loose entry 1) : loosely
Test Your Vocabulary
Commonly Confused Words Quiz
-
- I went to the ______ store to buy a birthday card.

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share loose
Time Traveler for loose
The first known use of loose was in the 13th century
See more words from the same century