Loose has 24 different meanings across 5 categories:
Verb · Adjective · Adverb · Intj · Proper Noun
The release of an arrow.
"The archer waited for a clear shot before giving the loose to his target."
"The loose in his pants had come undone again."
Usage: As a noun, loose refers to the act of releasing an arrow from a bowstring during archery. Use this term only in historical or specific archery contexts, not when describing something untightened.
To let loose, to free from restraints.
"The teacher marked my essay down because I wrote that I wanted to loose weight instead of lose it."
Misspelling of lose.
In plain English: To loosen something means to make it less tight so it can move more freely.
"The wind loosened the knot in his shoelace."
Usage: The verb loose is a misspelling and should never be used to mean losing something or winning a game. Always use the verb lose when you intend to indicate that you are not keeping or winning an item or contest.
not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting
"loose clothing"
"the large shoes were very loose"
having escaped, especially from confinement
"a convict still at large"
"searching for two escaped prisoners"
"dogs loose on the streets"
"criminals on the loose in the neighborhood"
Not fixed in place tightly or firmly.
"The button on my shirt is so loose that it keeps falling off when I tie it."
In plain English: Loose means not tight or secure enough to hold things firmly in place.
"The loose shirt was too big for her to wear comfortably."
Usage: Use loose to describe an object that is not held fast or secure, such as a loose screw or loose change. Avoid confusing it with the misspelled word "lose," which means to be unable to find something or to forfeit possession of it.
begin shooting; release your arrows
"The archer signaled for everyone to stay down as he gave a sharp whistle, indicating that it was time to loose their arrows at the target."
A surname.
"The local librarian, Mrs. Loose, always has a warm smile for her regular patrons."
The word loose comes from Old Norse lauss and entered Middle English with the meaning of being unfastened or not tight. Its ultimate roots lie in a Proto-Indo-European term for "to untie" or "set free," which also gave rise to related concepts like -less and lysis in Greek.