loosest

Variant of loose

loose definition

loose (lo̵̅o̅s)

adjective looser loos′er, loosest loos′·est

  1. not confined or restrained; free; unbound
  2. not put up in a special package, box, binding, etc. loose salt
  3. readily available; not put away under lock and key loose cash
  4. not firmly fastened down, on, or in a loose tooth, a loose wheel
  5. not taut; slack
  6. not tight; giving enough room loose clothing
  7. not compact or compactly constructed loose soil, a loose frame
  8. not restrained; irresponsible loose talk
  9. not precise or close; inexact a loose translation
  10. sexually immoral or promiscuous
    1. not strained or hard a loose cough
    2. moving freely or excessively loose bowels
  11. Informal relaxed; easy; unconstrained

Etymology: ME lous < ON lauss, akin to Ger los, OE leas: see -less

adverb looser loos′er, loosest loos′·est

loosely; in a loose manner

transitive verb loosed, loosing loos′·ing

  1. to make loose; specif.,
    1. to set free; unbind
    2. to make less tight
    3. to make less compact
    4. to free from restraint; make less rigid; relax
    5. to free from an obligation or responsibility; absolve
  2. to let fly; release to loose an arrow into the air

intransitive verb

to discharge a bullet, arrow, etc.; fire

Related Forms:

loose Idioms

break loose

  1. to free oneself by force
  2. to shake off restraint

cast loose

to untie or unfasten; become or set free

let loose (with)

to set free or give out; release

on the loose

  1. not confined or bound; free
  2. Informal having fun in a free, unrestrained manner

set loose

or turn loose
to make free; release

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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