loose

Etymology 1

From Middle English loos, los, lous, from Old Norse lauss, from Proto-Germanic *lausaz, whence also -less, leasing; from Proto-Indo-European *lewH-, *lū- (“to untie, set free, separate”), whence also lyo-, -lysis, via Ancient Greek.

verb

1. (transitive) To let loose, to free from restraints.
2. (transitive) To unfasten, to loosen.
3. (transitive) To make less tight, to loosen.
4. (intransitive) Of a grip or hold, to let go.
5. (archery) To shoot (an arrow).
6. (obsolete) To set sail.
7. (obsolete) To solve; to interpret.

adj

1. Not fixed in place tightly or firmly.
   This wheelbarrow has a loose wheel.
2. Not held or packaged together.
   You can buy apples in a pack, but they are cheaper loose.
3. Not under control.
   The dog is loose again.
   The very idea of a machine set loose to slaughter is chilling. October 15 2020, Frank Pasquale, “‘Machines set loose to slaughter’: the dangerous rise of military AI”, in The Guardian
4. Not fitting closely
   I wear loose clothes when it is hot.
5. Not compact.
   It is difficult walking on loose gravel.
   a cloth of loose texture
6. Relaxed.
   She danced with a loose flowing movement.
7. Not precise or exact; vague; indeterminate.
   a loose way of reasoning
   The comparison employed […] must be considered rather as a loose analogy than as an exact scientific explanation. 1858, William Whewell, The history of scientific ideas
8. Indiscreet.
   Loose talk costs lives.
9. (somewhat dated) Free from moral restraint; immoral, unchaste.
   In all these he was much and deeply read; / But not a page of any thing that's loose, / Or hints continuation of the species, / Was ever suffer'd, lest he should grow vicious. 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, section I
10. (not comparable, sports) Not being in the possession of any competing team during a game.
    He caught an elbow going after a loose ball.
    The puck was momentarily loose right in front of the net.
    Tomas Rosicky released the left-back with a fine pass but his low cross was cut out by Ivan Marcano. However the Brazilian was able to collect the loose ball, cut inside and roll a right-footed effort past Franco Costanzo at his near post. September 28, 2011, Tom Rostance, “Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos”, in BBC Sport
11. (dated) Not costive; having lax bowels.
12. (of volumes of materials) Measured loosely stacked or disorganized (such as of firewood).
13. (US, slang, motor racing, of a stock car) Having oversteer.

noun

1. (archery) The release of an arrow.
2. (obsolete) A state of laxity or indulgence; unrestrained freedom, abandonment.
3. (rugby) All play other than set pieces (scrums and line-outs).
   The defeat will leave manager Martin Johnson under pressure after his gamble of pairing Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood at 10 and 12 failed to ignite the England back line, while his forwards were repeatedly second best at the set-piece and in the loose. 2011, Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France
4. Freedom from restraint.
5. A letting go; discharge.

intj

1. (archery) begin shooting; release your arrows

Etymology 2

verb

1. Misspelling of lose.
   I'm going to loose this game.