loose
loose — adjective
1. Describing something that moves or can be moved from its proper place, because i
Describing something that moves or can be moved from its proper place, because it has not been fixed or fastened tightly enough.
Walid noticed the loose screw on the kitchen cabinet door.
collocation: loose screw
The dentist told Ayana her front tooth was getting loose.
collocation: loose tooth
A loose wire behind the TV caused the screen to flicker.
Quinn checked the loose railing before letting the children use the stairs.
During the storm, several roof tiles came loose and fell into the garden.
- slack
emphasizes lack of tension rather than insecure fixing
- unstable
suggests something may tip or fall, not just move
- unfastened
formal; focuses on the absence of a fastener
用法筆記
Commonly used with 'come', 'work', or 'shake' to describe gradual loosening over time (e.g. 'the handle worked loose').
常見錯誤
2. Hair that hangs freely without being tied, pinned, or braided into place.
Hair that hangs freely without being tied, pinned, or braided into place.
Mira wore her hair loose at the summer wedding.
The wind blew Élise's loose hair across her face as she walked along the beach.
common context: wind and loose hair
Liang prefers to keep his hair short rather than wearing it loose.
The hairdresser asked if Putri wanted her hair loose or tied up for the photoshoot.
用法筆記
Only used of hair — not of ribbons, laces, or other things that can be untied. For those, use 'untied' or 'undone'.
常見錯誤
3. Items that are not packed together, wrapped, or fastened as a single unit, often
Items that are not packed together, wrapped, or fastened as a single unit, often sold individually or by weight rather than in a sealed container.
The shop sells loose tea leaves by weight rather than in bags.
collocation: loose tea
Vikram put a handful of loose change into the parking meter.
collocation: loose change
Mauricio carried a stack of loose papers into the meeting room.
The market sells loose vegetables so customers can choose how many they want.
Kabir found several loose pages from the notebook scattered across his desk.
- bulk
sold in large quantities without packaging
- unpackaged
formal; without any wrapping
- separate
general; not necessarily about packaging
用法筆記
Particularly common in retail contexts. 'Loose change' = coins not in a wallet or purse; 'loose tea' = tea sold in bulk; 'loose-leaf' = paper that can be added or removed from a binder.
4. In team ball sports where players try to score goals, describing a ball or puck
In team ball sports where players try to score goals, describing a ball or puck that no player has yet gained control of.
Christopher jumped for the loose ball and passed it to his teammate.
collocation: loose ball
The goalkeeper ran out to grab the loose ball before the striker could reach it.
Anthony fought hard for the loose puck and managed to pass it across the ice.
A loose ball in the penalty area always creates a dangerous moment for both teams.
用法筆記
Restricted to sports commentary and analysis. Not used for other kinds of unclaimed objects. 'Loose ball' is most common in basketball and football (soccer); 'loose puck' in ice hockey.
5. Describing clothing that has extra space and does not press against the body, al
Describing clothing that has extra space and does not press against the body, allowing comfortable movement.
Ayana wore a loose cotton dress to stay cool in the summer heat.
collocation: loose dress
After the meal, Walid changed into a loose shirt.
collocation: loose shirt
The loose shirt that Quinn bought was comfortable but looked untidy for the office.
Putri prefers loose jeans when she travels because they are easier to move in.
Kabir found that loose sleeves made it difficult to roll up his shirt.
- baggy
often implies very loose, possibly shapeless
- roomy
positive connotation; comfortably spacious
- loose-fitting
the standard neutral term
- slouchy
informal; deliberately relaxed fit
用法筆記
Opposite of 'tight' in clothing. Can describe specific parts of garments ('loose sleeves', 'loose waistband'). For shoes, 'loose' is less common — 'loose-fitting' or 'roomy' are preferred.
常見錯誤
6. Lacking strictness, exactness, or careful organization — allowing for flexibilit
Lacking strictness, exactness, or careful organization — allowing for flexibility, errors, or different interpretations.
The teacher gave a loose translation so the class could grasp the poem's main idea.
collocation: loose translation
Mira accused the committee of using loose accounting rules that hid the real costs.
collocation: loose rules
Liang found the instructions too loose and wished they were more detailed.
The company's loose security rules let anyone enter the building without showing an ID.
In a loose sense, a bicycle is a vehicle, though it has no engine.
用法筆記
Used for rules, translations, interpretations, thinking, and organizations. Opposite of 'strict', 'precise', or 'tight'. Frequently seen in criticism ('loose reasoning', 'loose logic').
常見錯誤
7. Behaving in a way that does not follow accepted moral standards, especially rega
Behaving in a way that does not follow accepted moral standards, especially regarding sexual relationships and personal conduct.
The old novel was criticized for portraying a loose woman who left her husband.
historical usage: loose woman
Vikram's grandmother called the late-night parties loose living that would shame the family.
collocation: loose living
The magazine article accused the celebrity of loose behaviour during her holiday abroad.
Those scandalous rumours about loose morals nearly ruined the politician's career.
- promiscuous
more clinical; focuses on sexual behaviour specifically
- immoral
broader; covers all moral failings, not just sexual
- dissolute
formal; suggests self-indulgent, morally corrupt living
用法筆記
Old-fashioned and often judgmental. Can be offensive if used about a real person. 'Loose woman' in particular is a dated, sexist term. In modern English, this sense appears mostly in historical fiction, moral criticism, or self-aware cliché.
常見錯誤
loose — verb
1. To say something or express a strong emotion with little self-control, often in
To say something or express a strong emotion with little self-control, often in a sudden rush of words or sound.
Élise loosed a torrent of complaints when she saw the damaged package.
pattern: loose a torrent of
The speaker loosed a stream of jokes that kept the audience laughing for an hour.
After months of silence, Christopher loosed all his frustration in a single angry letter.
The politician loosed a volley of accusations against his opponent during the debate.
文法句型
loose + noun phrase (a torrent / a stream / a volley)
用法筆記
Often followed by 'a torrent of', 'a stream of', or 'a volley of' to indicate the force or quantity of expression. This verb sense is more literary than everyday speech — 'let loose' is more common in conversation.
常見錯誤
2. To shoot or discharge an arrow using a bow, or to fire a bullet from a gun.
To shoot or discharge an arrow using a bow, or to fire a bullet from a gun.
The archer loosed an arrow that struck the target right in the centre.
collocation: loose an arrow
Anthony took a deep breath and loosed three shots at the practice range.
collocation: loose shots
In the film, the hunter loosed a single arrow and brought down the deer.
The soldier loosed a round from his rifle to signal the start of the attack.
文法句型
loose + arrow/shots/bullet
用法筆記
Formal or literary. In modern everyday English, 'fire' (a gun/arrow) or 'shoot' are far more common. 'Loose an arrow' survives in archery contexts and historical fiction.
常見錯誤
3. To allow something dangerous, destructive, or extreme to begin and affect a part
To allow something dangerous, destructive, or extreme to begin and affect a particular place or group of people.
The storm loosed a wave of destruction on the coastal villages.
pattern: loose + wave of + on
The government feared the new policy would loose a flood of protests nationwide.
The virus was loosed upon the world before scientists could develop a vaccine.
Kabir warned that spreading those rumours would loose chaos upon the whole community.
文法句型
loose + noun phrase + on/upon + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used with 'on' or 'upon' to specify the target. The 'upon' variant sounds more dramatic and literary. This sense overlaps with verb/1 (EXPRESS FREELY) but verb/1 is about words/emotions, while verb/3 is about larger destructive forces.
4. To release an animal from a rope, cage, or other restraint, often so that it can
To release an animal from a rope, cage, or other restraint, often so that it can chase, guard, or attack someone.
The farmer loosed his dogs on the intruders who entered the field at night.
pattern: loose dogs on someone
Walid loosed the guard dog from its chain when he heard someone in the yard.
The officer loosed a trained dog to search for the missing child in the forest.
Mira refused to loose the horses from the stable until the thunderstorm passed.
The rabbits were loosed into a large pen where they could run freely.
文法句型
loose + animal + on/at + target
用法筆記
When the purpose is attack, the preposition 'on' is used ('loose the dog on the thief'). When the purpose is freedom, 'into' or 'from' are used ('loose the birds into the wild').
常見錯誤
5. To pull or adjust a knot, rope, fastener, or grip so that it is no longer pulled
To pull or adjust a knot, rope, fastener, or grip so that it is no longer pulled tight or held firmly.
Liang loosed the knot on the sail and the canvas dropped down with a flap.
collocation: loose a knot
Christopher loosed his tie and sighed with relief after the long meeting ended.
collocation: loose a tie
Putri loosed the straps on her backpack to take out her water bottle.
The sailor loosed the rope and the boat drifted slowly away from the dock.
文法句型
loose + knot/tie/rope/grip
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'loosen': 'loose' (verb) means to completely undo or let go, while 'loosen' means to make less tight without necessarily undoing fully. In casual use, 'loosen' is far more common for this sense.
常見錯誤
loose — adverb
1. In a way that is not tight, not controlled, or not restricted; freely, without b
In a way that is not tight, not controlled, or not restricted; freely, without being held in place.
The rope hung loose from the branch, swaying gently in the breeze.
adverb after verb: hung loose
Mira let her hair hang loose as she walked through the warm summer rain.
The dogs ran loose across the open field, chasing each other in circles.
The scarf blew loose in the strong wind and nearly flew off Vikram's neck.
Papers lay scattered loose on the floor after the storm blew the window open.
用法筆記
In modern English, 'loose' as an adverb is mostly limited to a few fixed patterns: 'hang loose', 'break loose', 'come loose', 'cut loose', 'let loose', 'run loose'. For most other meanings, 'loosely' is the standard adverb form.