[holdme]

loose (ls)

adjective

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
11.
1. not strained or hard a loose cough
2. moving freely or excessively loose bowels
12. Informal relaxed; easy; unconstrained

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

adverb

loosely; in a loose manner

transitive verb

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