Added 9 October 2026
loose
/luːs/ verb
In Latin: solūtus Wiktionary
verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about loose at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
adjective
-
Not compact or dense in structure or arrangement.
loose gravel
-
(of a ball in sport) not in the possession or control of any player.
a loose ball
-
Not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting.
loose clothing
adverb
Origin
From Middle English loos, los, lous, from Old Norse lauss, from Proto-Germanic *lausaz, whence also -less, leasing; from Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- (“to untie, set free, separate”), whence also lyo-, -lysis, via Ancient Greek.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)