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to loose

to loose

30 3.0
To let something go free or make it less tight
  • verb
  • /luːs/
translation icon : soltar
  • The teacher will loose the students for their lunch break in a few minutes.
  • loose upon the world

The doctor had to cut the skin loose and stretch it over.

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Examples

  • So this thing came loose as I took off the the heat sink.

  • As they left the narrows astern, he loosed a quick breath of relief.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • I have a feeling it's going to shake loose some memories for you.

  • So once you pop it loose from all the Ultracal, you get this guy.

  • There was one other person that came in and then I just remember him cutting me loose, put me in the shower to rinse off.

  • In those cottages, those summers, his family seemed different, loosed from the habits of town.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • " He gently loosed her hands from his lapels and guided her to a chair.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • With a sob of agony, she loosed her hold and clasped both hands to her head.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The sail to which it was fastened, suddenly loosed, flapped uselessly in the wind.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The trainer decided to loose the dog so it could run freely in the field.

Synonyms

to release
vsto loose
1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

is the same freeing idea but also covers making less tight
to free
vsto loose
337 1.0

To release someone or something that is held

includes releasing plus the idea of making things less tight
to unleash
vsto loose
201 4.3

To suddenly let a strong feeling, power, or animal go free

is broader, covering gentle release or simply making less tight
to liberate
vsto loose
104 4.3

Set someone free from prison or unfair control

applies the release idea more widely than political or social freedom
to untie
vsto loose
91 1.0

Make a knot or lace loose by undoing it

is the general act of releasing not limited to knots
to loosen
vsto loose
88 1.0

Make something less tight so it can move or open

is the broad idea of releasing or making less tight
to relax
vsto loose
78 1.0

To make or become less tight

uses that physical release meaning but also wider freeing senses
to cut loose
vsto loose
  • Informal
18 4.4

To have fun and act without control, or to remove someone from their job

is the straightforward act of releasing or making less tight
to let loose
vsto loose
13 3.8

Set something free from being held or controlled

is the general act of freeing or making less tight
to unwind
vsto loose
5 3.7

Make a wrapped or twisted thing loose and straight

is a more general release concept not only about winding
to unfasten
vsto loose
5 3.4

To open something by undoing a button or zipper

is the wider concept of releasing or making less tight
to unbind
vsto loose
3 6.4

To free something by untying ropes or cords

is a broader release idea not restricted to bindings
to slack
vsto loose
2 4.1

To make a rope, cable, or line less tight

applies the same release idea beyond ropes to many things
to untwist
vsto loose
2 3.7

To make something that is twisted become straight

is the wider act of releasing or making less tight
to slacken
vsto loose
1 5.5

Become or make less tight, like a rope

emphasizes the simple action of releasing tension
to unloose
vsto loose
  • Archaic
1 7.0

To make something less tight or set something free

refers to the same freeing idea in plain terms
to untether
vsto loose
1 6.6

To release something that is tied or fastened so it can move away

covers releasing in general, not only from fixed connections
to cast loose
vsto loose
1 6.7

To free something by letting go of ties or limits

is the basic notion of releasing or making less tight
to unloosen
vsto loose
  • Archaic
7.2

To make something less tight or free it from something holding it

focuses on the general act of releasing or loosening
to unbend
vsto loose
6.0

Make a rope or line less tight

covers the general release idea not only structural relaxation
to uncramp
vsto loose
5.6

To free a part of your body from a tight painful position

is the general act of releasing or making less tight

Antonyms

145 1.5

To make something hold firmly, like a bolt or belt

86 4.6

Hold a person or thing so it cannot move freely

Idioms

63 4.5

Free after escaping confinement and possibly dangerous, hard to find

16 8.1

A sudden time of chaos and confusion that spreads quickly

6 8.0

Act in a careless way by ignoring rules and other people's feelings

at loose ends
  • Informal
2 7.2

Feeling unsure what to do and not busy

1 7.9

A sudden time when many people lose control and chaos starts

loose as a goose
  • Informal
1 8.4

Being very relaxed and not worried, acting carefree and playful

9.9

Sudden noisy chaos starts

7.7

A warning that careless talk can cause trouble by revealing secrets

Phrasal Verbs

Begin suddenly in a violent or noisy way

to cut loose
  • Informal
18 4.4

To have fun and act without control, or to remove someone from their job

13 3.8

Set something free from being held or controlled

to let loose
  • Informal
12 3.9

Relax and enjoy yourself without worrying

To force yourself free from a place or person

6 3.9

Make a sudden loud sound, like a shout or laugh

6 3.6

Finish small remaining tasks and problems before ending a project

To free something by letting go of ties or limits

to kick loose
  • Informal
8.1

To free yourself from a promise or duty that controls your life

to loose off
  • Informal
8.2

To fire a gun or other weapon

Compounds

loose end
  • Informal
57 3.7

An unfinished small task or detail that still needs doing

loose cannon
  • Informal
19 7.4

A person who acts unpredictably and can cause problems

screw-loose
  • Offensive
12 9.0

Behaving in a strange or not sensible way

8 3.1

Small coins people keep in pockets or jars

Not tight on the body so clothes hang away from you

loose woman
  • Offensive
2 8.5

A woman who has many sexual partners and is judged by others

loose lip
  • Informal
1 7.7

A person who talks too much and tells secrets

The parts of something move easily when they are not held together firmly

loose sentence
  • Specialized
8.3

A way of writing where the main idea comes first and extra details follow

loose smut
  • Specialized
9.9

A disease of wheat or barley that turns the grain head into a powder of fungus

Having loose skin under the chin that hangs down

A type of lettuce with loose leaves that do not form a head

loose fish
  • Informal
9.9

A person who feels out of place in a group

loose man
  • Offensive
7.9

A man who has sex with many people or cheats on his partner

A smile that shows loose teeth about to fall out

How Tight

to tighten
145 1.5
to fasten
68 1.6
to loose
30 3.0
to release
1.8

Surface Forms

loose infinitive
loosed past
loosed past participle
loosing present participle
looses third person singular

Etymology

Loose comes from an old German word lōs meaning 'free' or 'set free'. To loose someone is to release them or make something less tight, so the verb means to let go or free.