Collins English-English Dictionary

loose [luːs]

1. 1. adj free or released from confinement or restraint

2. 2. adj not close, compact, or tight in structure or arrangement

3. 3. adj not fitted or fitting closely

   loose clothing is cooler

4. 4. adj not bundled, packaged, fastened, or put in a container

   loose nails

5. 5. adj inexact; imprecise

   a loose translation

6. 6. adj (of funds, cash, etc) not allocated or locked away; readily available

7. 7. adj

8. 8. adj (esp of women) promiscuous or easy

9. 9. adj (of attitudes, ways of life, etc) immoral or dissolute

10. 10. adj lacking a sense of responsibility or propriety

    loose talk

11. 11. adj

12. 12. adj (of the bowels) emptying easily, esp excessively; lax

13. 13. adj (of a cough) accompanied by phlegm, mucus, etc

14. 14. adj (of a dye or dyed article) fading as a result of washing; not fast

15. 15. adj [informal] [chiefly US and Canadian] very relaxed; easy

16. 16. adv

17. 17. adv in a loose manner; loosely

18. 18. adv (in combination)

    loose-fitting

19. 19. vt. [tr] to set free or release, as from confinement, restraint, or obligation

20. 20. vt. [tr] to unfasten or untie

21. 21. vt. to make or become less strict, tight, firmly attached, compact, etc

22. 22. vt. [when intr, often foll by off] to let fly (a bullet, arrow, or other missile)

23. 23. vt. [Etymology] C13 (in the sense: not bound): from Old Norse lauss free; related to Old English leas free from, -less