单词	looseness
释义	looseloose1 /luːs/ ●●● S3 W3 adjective Entry menu MENU FOR looseloose1 not firmly attached2 not attached3 not tied tightly4 hair5 clothes6 free7 not exact8 not very controlled9 not solid10 sport11 cut loose12 let (something ↔) loose13 let somebody loose on something14 be at a loose end15 loose ends16 loose change17 loose cannon18 hang/stay loose19 body waste20 immoral21 talk Word Origin WORD ORIGINloose1 Origin: 1100-1200 Old Norse lauss Examples EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES a loose group of local organizations a loose interpretation of the law a loose screw a loose tooth a loose woman A looser interpretation of the law would lead to more convictions. In hot weather, loose cotton clothes are more comfortable. linen cloth with a loose weave My shoelaces are loose. One of Sean's front teeth is loose. One of the hinges on the box was coming loose. She wore a long, loose linen jacket. Some of the floorboards are loose and they creak when you walk on them. The garage claimed it was just a loose connection. The guitar strings were loose, but none were broken. The term "empire' is often loosely applied to a federation of states. The title is a loose translation of the Korean original. The top fitted me, but the shorts were a little loose round the waist. There must be a wire loose, because this light isn't working. This is only a loose translation of the original paper. EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS A sparrow hawk appeared - and all hell broke loose! He didn't bathe, his teeth got loose. It was as though she'd been let loose from shackles she hadn't even known she'd been wearing. Joey Bonanza doesn't like loose ends. Searching the cloaks turns up a few loose buttons and an Imperial silver shilling. 20. There are two classes of relationships; loose coupling and tight coupling. They saw themselves as having a consultative decision-making style, using relatively loose follow-up, and being very open to persuasion. Thesaurus Longman Language Activatorloose clothes► loose loose clothes do not fit your body tightly: · She wore a long, loose linen jacket.· In hot weather, loose cotton clothes are more comfortable.· The top fitted me, but the shorts were a little loose round the waist. ► baggy baggy clothes are designed to be big and loose and hide the real shape of your body: · Bill was wearing a polo shirt and baggy blue pants.· I like T-shirts as long as they're really baggy. ► loose-fitting loose, especially in order to be comfortable: · I wore loose-fitting clothes to protect me from the heat of the sun.· A kung fu suit should be loose-fitting, with buttons and a high collar. ► shapeless large and loose, and having no shape or style: · He looked dirty and was wearing an ugly, shapeless suit.· Helen's hat was limp and shapeless from the rain. ways of saying that clothes become looser► stretch if clothes stretch or if you stretch them, they become looser and do not fit you properly any more: · I think this sweater must have stretched when I washed it. · "Can I borrow your boots?" "No, you'll stretch them." ► give if tight clothes or shoes give , they become looser after you have been wearing them: · Don't worry if swimsuits are tight -- they always give a little.· These shoes should start to give after you've worn them for a few weeks. to make clothes looser► loosen to make a piece of clothing looser, especially by unfastening it: · Bill loosened his tie and lit a cigarette.· Loosen any tight clothing, and lay the patient on his side.· Eric leaned back in his chair and loosened his belt. ► let out to make a piece of clothing looser by undoing the stitches and sewing it up again, so that it is a little bigger: let out something/let something out: · You'll either have to let that skirt out or lose some weight. a loose rope/knot/chain► loose a rope, knot, chain etc that is loose is not tied or stretched tightly, and is not a tight as it should be: · The guitar strings were loose, but none were broken.· There must be a wire loose, because this light isn't working. ► slack a rope or chain that is slack is not stretched as tightly as it should be: · If the rope between climbers is slack, one slip can be fatal.go slack (=become less tight suddenly): · I let the rope go slack as the boat came closer. to make a rope/knot/chain looser► loosen to make something loose that has been pulled tight or fastened tightly: · He grasped one of the mules and began to loosen the hitch that held its load. ► slacken to reduce the pressure on something such as a rope, so that it is no longer pulled as tightly as before - used especially in written contexts: · The boat surged forwards as he slackened the rope.· Don't allow the reins to slacken, keep them taut.slacken off something/slacken something off: · Slacken off the line, and pull the fishing rod towards you. something that is not fixed firmly enough► loose something that is loose is not firmly fixed in the place where it should be: · Some of the floorboards are loose and they creak when you walk on them.· a loose toothcome loose (=gradually become looser): · One of the hinges on the box was coming loose.work loose (=become loose gradually after a long time, or after a lot of use): · Three bolts worked loose and caused the train to derail.a loose connection (=when electrical wires are not firmly connected): · The garage claimed it was just a loose connection. ► wobbly something that is wobbly shakes or moves from side to side because it is not fixed as firmly as it should be: · Don't sit on that chair -- it's got a wobbly leg.· The front wheels on the car seem wobbly. to make something loose that has been firmly or tightly fixed► loosen to make something loose in order to remove it, for example a screw or lid that has been tightly fixed: · Could you loosen this lid for me?· He took a screwdriver from his pocket and began loosening the screws that secured the steel bars to the window frame. people► crazy someone who is crazy does things that are extremely strange or stupid: · My dad told me I was crazy to leave my job.· You agreed to marry him? Are you crazy?· crazy drivers who cause accidents· His friends thought he was crazy when he told them he was going to spend his entire vacation exploring a cave.completely/totally crazy: · Put that gun down! Are you totally crazy?crazy to do something: · You're crazy to lend him all that money - you'll never get it back. ► be nuts also be crackers British spoken informal to be crazy: · People will think you're crackers if you go around talking to yourself like that.· The guy's completely nuts! He goes around in nothing but a pair of shorts in the middle of winter. ► mad/barmy British spoken crazy: · You spent $190 on a pair of shoes? You must be mad!completely mad/barmy: · Monica's new boyfriend is completely barmy. He calls her almost every day from Australia.mad/barmy to do something: · She's mad to turn down an offer like that.· I must have been mad to let myself become involved with someone like Dennis. ► be insane/be out of your mind especially spoken you say someone is insane or out of their mind if they do something or intend to do something that is completely crazy: · Anyone who would take a boat out in this weather must be insane.· Tell the police? Are you out of your mind? ► need your head examined/have taken leave of your senses say this when you think someone is crazy because they have done something that you do not approve of or agree with: · A man who would give his fourteen-year-old son a motorcycle has obviously taken leave of his senses.· If you ask me, anyone who believes in UFOs needs their head examined. ► nutty informal also dotty/batty British informal crazy - use this to describe someone, especially an old person, who behaves in a slightly strange but often amusing way: · Grandma can act kind of nutty at times.· My uncle frequently wore shoes which didn't match, and everyone thought he was a bit dotty.· Next door to us lived a batty old lady who used to have long conversations with her plants. ► be out to lunch/be out of your tree informal someone who is out to lunch or out of their tree behaves in a strange, confused way and does not seem to know what is happening around them: · Our English teacher's really out to lunch -- the class started five weeks ago and she hasn't even asked our names yet.· He is quoted as saying privately that he thinks the former prime minister is 'out of her tree'. ► flaky especially American, informal someone who seems unable to think clearly or do what they should do, and behaves in a strange but often amusing way: · Christy was kind of flaky, but everyone liked her.· You couldn't trust Sam to do anything important. He was too flaky. ► be one sandwich short of a picnic also be a couple of cans short of a six-pack/be a few clowns short of a circus etc strange and slightly crazy: · I always thought Toby was one sandwich short of a picnic. Do you remember how he would sometimes work naked in the garden? · Come on. Let's face it - nobody trusts the guy because he's at least one clown short of a circus. ► have a screw loose informal slightly crazy, often in an amusing way: · "Fernando can be really weird sometimes." "Yeah, he's got a screw loose, no question." not exact► rough not exact, or not containing exact details: · He gave us a rough outline of the course.rough estimate/guess: · I've got a rough estimate here of what it might cost.rough idea: · She had a rough idea of where Harry lived, but she didn't know the exact street. ► approximate formal an approximate number, amount, or time is close to the true number, amount, or time but does not need to be completely correct: · Our approximate time of arrival will be 10.30.· Please state on the form the approximate value of all your household goods. ► vague an explanation, promise, reason etc that is vague is not exact, but you think that it should be: · The doctor's vague explanations only increased Clara's fears.· I've only got a vague idea of what he wants for this project.be vague about (=explain something in a vague way): · Officials were vague about the number of weapons that were uncovered. ► hazy a hazy memory, understanding, idea etc is not clear and not exact: · She had a hazy recollection of being carried out of the room. · The details are still a little hazy. ► loose : loose translation/interpretation/sense etc a record, explanation etc of something that includes parts that are not exactly like what was said, written, or decided originally: · This is only a loose translation of the original paper.· A looser interpretation of the law would lead to more convictions. WORD SETS► Illness & Disability abscess, nounache, verbache, nounacne, nounagoraphobia, nounagoraphobic, nounague, noun-aholic, suffixAIDS, nounailment, nounairsick, adjectivealbino, nounalcoholic, nounalcoholism, nounallergic, adjectiveallergy, nounamnesia, nounamputee, nounanaemia, nounanaemic, adjectiveangina, nounanorexia, nounanorexic, adjectiveantacid, nounanthrax, nounantibody, nounantidepressant, nounantidote, nounantigen, nounantihistamine, nounanti-inflammatory, adjectiveantitoxin, nounapoplectic, adjectiveapoplexy, nounappendicitis, nounarteriosclerosis, nounarthritis, nounaseptic, adjectiveaspirin, nounasthma, nounastigmatism, nounasymptomatic, adjectiveathlete's foot, nounatrophy, verbauto-immune disease, nounAyurvedic medicine, nounbaby blues, nounbacillus, nounbackache, nounbark, verbbattle fatigue, nounBCG, nounbedridden, adjectivebedsore, nounbed-wetting, nounbellyache, nounbenign, adjectiveberiberi, nounbespectacled, adjectivebetter, adjectivebilious, adjectivebinge, verbbiopsy, nounbirthmark, nounbite, verbbite, nounblack and blue, adjectiveBlack Death, the, black eye, nounblackout, nounbleed, verbbleeding, nounblind, verbblister, nounblister, verbblood bank, nounblood donor, nounblood poisoning, nounbloodshot, adjectiveblood transfusion, nounbloody, adjectivebloody, verbblue baby, nounboil, nounbotulism, nounbrain damage, nounbreakdown, nounbronchitis, nounbruise, nounbruise, verbBSE, nounbubonic plague, nounbug, nounbulimia, nounbump, nounbunion, nounbuzz, verbcalloused, adjectivecallus, nouncancer, nouncandida, nouncanker, nouncarbuncle, nouncarcinogen, nouncarcinogenic, adjectivecarcinoma, nouncardiac, adjectivecardiovascular, adjectivecaries, nouncarpal tunnel syndrome, nouncarrier, nouncarry, verbcarsick, adjectivecast, nouncasualty, nouncataract, nouncatarrh, nouncatatonic, adjectivecatching, adjectivecauliflower ear, nouncerebral palsy, nouncertify, verbcervical smear, nounchapped, adjectivecharley horse, nounchemotherapy, nounchesty, adjectivechicken pox, nounchilblains, nounChinese medicine, nouncholera, nounchronic, adjectivecirrhosis, nounCJD, nouncleanse, verbcleft palate, nounclinic, nounclinical, adjectiveclub foot, nouncold, nouncold sore, nouncolic, nouncolitis, nouncollapse, verbcolour-blind, adjectivecoma, nouncommon cold, nouncommon denominator, nouncommunicate, verbcomplaint, nouncomplicate, verbcomplication, nouncompound fracture, nounconcuss, verbconcussion, nouncondition, nouncongenital, adjectivecongested, adjectiveconjunctivitis, nounconstipation, nounconsumption, nounconsumptive, nouncontagion, nouncontagious, adjectivecontinent, adjectivecontract, verbcontusion, nounconvalesce, verbconvulsion, nouncorn, nouncortisone, nouncot death, nouncough, nounCPR, nouncrack-up, nouncramp, nounCreutzfeldt-Jakob disease, nouncrick, nouncrick, verbcripple, nouncripple, verbcross-eyed, adjectivecroup, nouncurable, adjectivecut, nouncyst, nouncystic fibrosis, nouncystitis, noundecompression sickness, noundeep vein thrombosis, noundeformity, noundegenerative, adjectivedehydrate, verbdelirious, adjectivedelirium, noundelusion, noundementia, noundengue fever, noundepression, noundermatitis, noundiabetes, noundiabetic, adjectivediabetic, noundiagnosis, noundialysis, noundiaper rash, noundiarrhoea, noundiphtheria, noundisability, noundisable, verbdisabled, adjectivedischarge, verbdisease, noundisgorge, verbdislocate, verbdisorder, noundissipated, adjectivedissipation, noundistemper, noundistend, verbdizzy, adjectivedoddering, adjectivedoddery, adjectivedonate, verbdonor, noundouble vision, noundoughy, adjectivedown, adverbDown's syndrome, noundrawn, adjectivedressing, noundrinker, noundrunk, adjectivedrunk, noundrunken, adjectivedull, adjectivedumb, adjectiveDVT, noundysentery, noundyslexia, noundyspepsia, noundyspeptic, adjectiveearache, nouneating disorder, nounEbola, nounectopic pregnancy, nouneczema, nounemaciated, adjectiveemasculate, verbembolism, nounemphysema, nounencephalitis, nounendoscope, nounenervate, verbenteritis, nounepidemic, nounepilepsy, nounepileptic, adjectiveepileptic, nounetiology, nounexcruciating, adjectiveexposure, nouneyeless, adjectiveeye strain, nounfail, verbfaint, nounfester, verbfever, nounfever blister, nounfevered, adjectivefeverish, adjectivefirst aid, nounfit, nounflat feet, nounflat-footed, adjectiveflu, nounfood poisoning, nounfoot and mouth disease, nounfracture, verbfracture, nounfrostbite, noungall, noungammy, adjectiveganglion, noungangrene, noungas, noungash, noungastric, adjectivegastritis, noungastroenteritis, nounGerman measles, nounget, verbgingivitis, nounglandular fever, nounglaucoma, noungnarled, adjectivegonorrhea, noungout, noungrand mal, noungraze, verbgraze, noungriping, adjectivegroggy, adjectivegrowing pains, noungrowth, noungush, verbgynaecology, nounhacking cough, nounhaemophilia, nounhaemophiliac, nounhaemorrhage, nounhaemorrhage, verbhaemorrhoids, nounhalitosis, nounhandicap, nounhandicapped, adjectivehangover, nounhard of hearing, adjectiveharelip, nounhay fever, nounheadache, nounhealth, nounheart attack, nounheartburn, nounheart disease, nounheart failure, nounheat exhaustion, nounheat rash, nounheatstroke, nounheave, verbhepatitis, nounhernia, nounherpes, nounHIV, nounhormone replacement therapy, nounhospital, nounhospitalize, verbhot flush, nounhousebound, adjectiveHRT, nounhump, nounhumpback, nounhunchback, nounhungover, adjectivehydrophobia, nounhypertension, nounhypothermia, nounhysterectomy, nounhysteria, nounhysterical, adjectiveillness, nounimmune, adjectiveimmune system, nounimmunity, nounimmunize, verbimmunology, nounimpacted, adjectiveimpediment, nounimpetigo, nounimpotent, adjectiveincision, nounincontinent, adjectiveincubate, verbincurable, adjectiveindigestion, nounindisposed, adjectiveindisposition, nouninfantile, adjectiveinfantile paralysis, nouninfect, verbinfected, adjectiveinfection, nouninfectious, adjectiveinfirmity, nouninflammation, nouninflammatory, adjectiveinfluenza, nouninfusion, nouningrowing, adjectiveinoculate, verbinoperable, adjectiveinsane, adjectiveinsanity, nouninsomnia, nouninsomniac, nouninstability, nounintensive care, nounintravenous, adjectiveinvalid, nouninvalidity, nouninvasive, adjectiveirregular, adjectiveirritable bowel syndrome, nounirritant, nounirritate, verbirritated, adjectiveirritation, noun-ism, suffixisolation, nounjaundice, nounjaundiced, adjectivejet lag, nounknock-kneed, adjectiveknotted, adjectivelaceration, nounlaryngitis, nounlegionnaire's disease, nounleper, nounleprosy, nounlesion, nounleukemia, nounlisp, nounlisteria, nounliverish, adjectivelockjaw, nounlong-sighted, adjectiveloose, adjectivelozenge, nounlumbago, nounlunacy, nounLyme disease, nounmad cow disease, nounmalady, nounmalaise, nounmalaria, nounmalformation, nounmalignancy, nounmalignant, adjectivemalnourished, adjectivemalnutrition, nounmange, nounmangy, adjectivemania, nounmanic, adjectivemanic depression, nounmastitis, nounME, nounmeasles, nounmedicinal, adjectivemegalomania, nounmegalomaniac, nounmelancholia, nounmelancholic, adjectivemelanoma, nounmend, verbmeningitis, nounmentally handicapped, adjectivemigraine, nounmild, adjectivemiscarriage, nounmole, nounmongol, nounmono, nounmononucleosis, nounmorbid, adjectivemorning sickness, nounmoron, nounmotion sickness, nounmotor neurone disease, nounMRI, nounMRSA, nounMS, nounmultiple sclerosis, nounmumps, nounmurmur, nounmusclebound, adjectivemuscular dystrophy, nounmute, adjectivemute, nounmyopia, nounmyopic, adjectivemyxomatosis, nounnarcolepsy, nounnausea, nounnauseate, verbnauseous, adjectivenearsighted, adjectivenervous breakdown, nounnettle rash, nounneuralgia, nounneurosis, nounneurotic, adjectivenosebleed, nounnotifiable, adjectiveNSU, nounobesity, nounoff-colour, adjectiveoperate, verboperation, nounophthalmic, adjectiveophthalmology, noun-osis, suffixosteoarthritis, nounosteopathy, nounosteoporosis, nounoutpatient, nounoverbite, nounpacemaker, nounpaediatrics, nounpale, adjectivepallid, adjectivepallor, nounpalpitate, verbpalpitations, nounpalsy, nounpandemic, nounparalyse, verbparalysed, adjectiveparalysis, nounparalytic, adjectiveparalytic, nounparanoia, nounparaplegia, nounparaplegic, nounparasitic, adjectiveParkinson's disease, nounparoxysm, nounpasty, adjectivepasty-faced, adjectivepathogen, nounpathological, adjectivepathology, nounpeaked, adjectivepeaky, adjectivepellagra, nounpeptic ulcer, nounperforated, adjectiveperiod pain, nounperitonitis, nounpernicious anaemia, nounpersecution complex, nounpestilence, nounpestilential, adjectivepetit mal, nounpharyngitis, nounphlebitis, nounphlegm, noun-phobic, suffixphysiotherapy, nounpigeon-toed, adjectivepins and needles, nounplacebo, nounplague, nounplaque, nounplaster cast, nounpleurisy, nounPMS, nounPMT, nounpneumonia, nounpockmark, nounpockmarked, adjectivepoisoning, nounpolio, nounpolyp, nounpoor, adjectivepost-traumatic stress disorder, nounpremenstrual tension, nounprescribe, verbprescription, nounpreventive medicine, nounprickle, verbprickly heat, nounprognosis, nounprolapse, nounprophylactic, adjectiveprophylactic, nounprophylaxis, nounpsoriasis, nounpsychopath, nounpsychosis, nounpsychosomatic, adjectivepsychotic, adjectivepuffy, adjectivepull, verbpurulent, adjectivepus, nounpustule, nounqueasy, adjectiverabid, adjectiverabies, nounradiation sickness, nounradiography, nounrash, nounraw, adjectivereact, verbreaction, nounreceive, verbrecuperate, verbrecuperative, adjectiveregurgitate, verbrelapse, verbremission, nounrepetitive strain injury, nounresistance, nounrespond, verbretch, verbRhesus factor, nounrheumatic, adjectiverheumatic fever, nounrheumatism, nounrheumatoid arthritis, nounrickets, nounringworm, nounRSI, nounrubella, nounrun-down, adjectiverunny, adjectiverupture, nounsaddle-sore, adjectivesalmonella, nounscab, nounscabby, adjectivescabies, nounscald, verbscald, nounscaly, adjectivescar, nounscar, verbscarlet fever, nounschizophrenia, nounsciatica, nounsclerosis, nounscrape, verbscrape, nounscratch, nounscurvy, nounseasick, adjectiveseizure, nounself-examination, nounsenile, adjectivesenile dementia, nounsenseless, adjectivesepsis, nounseptic, adjectivesepticaemia, nounserum, nounset, verbsexually transmitted disease, nounshell shock, nounshell-shocked, adjectiveshingles, nounshock, nounshort-sighted, adjectivesickle-cell anaemia, nounsickly, adjectivesickness, nounside effect, nounsightless, adjectivesimple fracture, nounsleeping sickness, nounslipped disc, nounsmallpox, nounsnakebite, nounsnow blindness, nounsore, adjectivesore, nounspastic, adjectivespecial needs, nounspecimen, nounspina bifida, nounsprain, verbsputum, nounsquint, verbsquint, nounstammer, nounstarvation, nounstarve, verbSTD, nounstomachache, nounstone, nounstrain, nounstrain, verbstrangulated, adjectivestrep throat, nounstroke, nounsty, nounsuccumb, verbsufferer, nounsunstroke, nounsuperbug, nounsurgical, adjectiveswelling, nounswollen, adjectivesymptom, nounsymptomatic, adjectivesyndrome, nounsyphilis, nounTB, nountear, verbtetanus, nountherapeutic, adjectivetherapy, nounthrombosis, nounthrush, nountic, nountight, adjectivetingle, verbtinnitus, nountipsy, adjectivetonsillitis, nountoothache, nountorment, nountourniquet, nountoxaemia, nountoxic shock syndrome, nountraction, nountransfusion, nountrauma, nountravel sickness, nountreatment, nountremor, nountuberculosis, nountumour, nountunnel vision, nountwinge, nountwitch, nountyphoid, nountyphus, nounulcer, nounulcerate, verbultrasound, noununderweight, adjectiveundressed, adjectiveunhealthy, adjectiveuntreated, adjectivevaccinate, verbvaccine, nounvaricose veins, nounVD, nounvenereal disease, nounverruca, nounvertigo, nounviral, adjectivevirology, nounvirulent, adjectivevomit, verbvomit, nounwart, nounweak, adjectiveweal, nounweep, verbwheeze, verbwheeze, nounwheezy, adjectivewhiplash, nounwhooping cough, nounwind, nounwithered, adjectivewound, nounwrench, verbwriter's cramp, nounyaws, nounyeast infection, nounyellow fever, noun Collocations COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY► come loose  The screw has come loose (=became loose). ► loose stones  His rear wheel spun on the loose stones. ► came loose  The driver had forgotten to fasten the safety chain and the trailer came loose (=became unattached). ► break/get loose (=escape) A 34-year-old inmate broke loose from the sheriff’s office yesterday. ► turn/let/set something loose (=let something go free) Don’t let your dog loose on the beach. ► loose interpretation  a loose interpretation of the law ► loose federation/alliance/group etc  a loose federation of political groups ► loose soil/earth ► loose ball  Sheringham was the first player to reach the loose ball. ► loose ends ... tied up  We’ve nearly finished, but there are still a few loose ends to be tied up (=dealt with or completed). ► loose woman  a loose woman ► loose talk  There’s been a bit of loose talk about it. COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a loose alliance (=not strong)· A loose alliance of opposition groups formed in 1990. ► a loose connection (also a tenuous connection formal) (=one that is not strong, close, or obvious)· There seemed to be only a loose connection between the questions and the answers. ► a loose cough (=one that produces liquid) ► soft/loose curls (=gentle curves)· long brown hair in soft curls ► loose dirt (=that you can brush off easily)· Keep your pack clean by brushing off any loose dirt after use. ► loose knot · She tied the belt in a loose knot around her waist. ► loose-leaf file/binder/format ► loose morals  a young woman of loose morals (=low standards of sexual behaviour – often used humorously) ► loose tooth · I had a loose tooth. ► turned loose  There are some criminals who cannot be turned loose onto the streets. ► work (its way) loose  One of the screws must have worked loose. COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► too · Both Hayman's suggestions were too loose and half-baked for a man of his devious cunning to consider seriously for a moment.· Some feel that the school structure is too loose, allowing children too much freedom when choosing learning tasks.· Her view of the West is that society's bonds are too loose there.· The beds on Disturbed are all out of tune, too taut or too loose.· So you must be relaxed to enable you to groove, but not so relaxed as to be too loose.· They hung strangely, too loose, yet too short as well.· They are usually coupled with pain but that correlation is too loose for reliability.· However, inflation broke rank in the mid-1980s, when monetary policy was allowed to become too loose. ► very · The least sociable auk, breeding in very loose colonies, in crevices of cliffs and rocks.· The colonial bonds between its constituents are very loose.· M39 is very loose, but sufficiently condensed to make it obvious, particularly in view of the characteristic pattern of its leading stars.· These distinctions are necessarily very loose and easily blurred when actual diagnosis is attempted.· They have even been mistaken for a very loose cluster, though in fact they are not really associated with each other.· The very loose cluster C 399 can be found by using Alpha and Beta Sagittæ as pointers.· However, both arguments are spurious, for there is a very loose connection between tense and time.· It doesn't have to be a close fit, initially you want a very loose fitting so there's a draught. NOUN► alliance · The Empire, a loose alliance of city-states and provinces owing allegiance to its Emperor, and the kingdom of Bretonnia.· Some are loose alliances that use new technology to spread ideas and mobilise supporters. ► ball · The great satisfaction was that the aspects we concentrated on in training - defence and winning loose ball - worked out well.· But Abdur-Rahim missed an off-balance shot and Jelani McCoy grabbed the loose ball.· He went down on a loose ball and my boot landed on him.· He lost the ball when he hit the turf but recovered the loose ball.· Henderson scooped up the loose ball to score.· The South-West's late try came when Clough was sent a hospital pass and Fallon booted the loose ball over the line.· Three minutes later Sharp was denied by Chamberlain, but Milligan seized on the loose ball to score. ► box · Reminding himself that there was nothing to fear he set off, past the loose boxes with their heaps of shabby treasure.· To his left was a long, shadowy, cobbled passage running beside what looked like barred loose boxes.· The crammed loose boxes to his right seemed more menacing, as though the ugliest objects had been banished to this unvisited dungeon.· The mule shook its head at Granny Weatherwax when they arrived at its loose box.· The men slept ten to a box on stone floors and all companies were allotted loose boxes.· William Springett also built a coach-house for two carriages and loose boxes under a crowning pediment. ► cannon · Of course the Palace can't afford to leave her as a loose cannon. ► change · Last night his hourly wage, about £8 in loose change was nicked from under his nose by scavenging ragamuffins.· I fished around in my handbag, coming up with some loose change.· A sharp eyed youngster should have no difficulty in spotting the loose change, that so often litter such areas.· Arnold bought the club out of loose change.· She would bring her loose change to Rachaela for translation into fifty-pence pieces and pounds.· Bunny felt in his pocket, fiddling for loose change.· Carry some loose change to make emergency public telephone calls.· Pockets were emptied of loose change, parcels scanned as if for a malignant tumour and handbags rifled for evidence of evil intent. ► earth · Max leaned forward and gathered up a handful of loose earth and scattered it on the coffin.· Walker Evans records a roughly piled grave of loose earth topped with the impermanent and unstable memorial of a dinner plate.· Panic-stricken, he clutched at the loose earth at the sides of the pit and pulled himself to an upright position. ► end · They are all currently at a loose end, and loose ends are so easily snipped off.· He was also at loose ends emotionally.· There were still loose ends in her working week so her sister Sarah took it upon herself to tie them up.· Rhoda had died a year or two ago, and we had heard that Ralph was at loose ends.· One's best friend's cousin's daughter might well be at a loose end after leaving art college.· He could not tell whether they were broken ends, or perhaps the loose ends from underwater knots that had come undone.· Joey Bonanza doesn't like loose ends.· The loose end was not splintered and cracked, but neatly finished. ► federation · A new constitution was adopted transforming a loose federation of affiliated organisations into a centralised national political party.· They were something else, a loose federation of animals and plants united into an emergent superorganism exhibiting distinctive behavior.· The Labour Party was ceasing to be a loose federation of political and industrial groups.· This was a proposal for a loose federation of locally based groups. ► fit · In my own travels, I found a loose fit between learning that occurred at the workplace and in schools. ► group · Most other firms are also members of a looser group of some sort. ► interpretation · Car, she thought, was a loose interpretation.· Here the somewhat looser interpretation of unity was used. with stress on the humanity side and moral choices. ► soil · The animal was attracted by the smell of the explosive and pawed at loose soil beneath a tree.· Magnolias fare best in acidic, loose soil.· The solid rocks have been weathered to form loose soil.· Struggling out much later from the weight of corpses, crawling out of the loose soil.· You should never wash roots before storing, but always gently rub off any loose soil.· Remove any heavy loose soil by scraping.· Use bulb-fibre, peat or a loose soil mixed with compost. ► stone · Boldly he kicked loose stones off the ledges and heard them clatter into the silence below.· Then they were driving over rough ground, loose stones popping under the tyres.· There aren't any loose stones.· My brain feels like a loose stone in a dried leather pouch.· I've been trying to find loose stones again.· He moved lightly over the rough ground, dodging round bushes, avoiding every loose stone and broken twig.· There is only one tall stone standing now and no white cross on the cairn-like mound of loose stones.· Her left foot skittered on the loose stones, and she wobbled again, dangerously. ► stool · Sometimes parents had stopped the laxative because the stool withholding manoeuvres or screaming did not stop as soon as loose stools were induced.· Warning: Consumers over the age of 16 are likely to experience severe indigestion, heartburn, regret and loose stools.· It needs time to regain its normal elasticity and reduce in size so a period of loose stools is often desirable.· Warning: Eaten in sufficient amounts, this product ensures bad breath, probable indigestion and pungent, loose stools.· Parents may interpret this as very loose stools.· Patients with active colitis had clinical symptoms of urgency, loose stools, abdominal pain, and blood in the stool. ► woman · The loosest woman is a stickler for etiquette and elocution.· She said she was not a loose woman but that she had blood in her veins, not Sour milk.· Here he encountered the bars and loose women and dance halls that would soon make him a famous artist. Phrases PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► cut loose I'm ready to cut loose and enjoy the weekend. And knowing that, I wondered how much Ellie would ever cut loose of Michael. Both times Francis cut loose with stinging criticism of his team's play. But when Mike Mannion cut loose the home side collapsed to 127 all out. I felt like I had been cut loose. Many were cut loose and left to fend for themselves in the job-poor wilderness. Perhaps I do have to cut loose. The stars floated free like buoys cut loose on a dark sea. They should be demanding that the settlers be cut loose. ► let (something ↔) loose► let somebody loose on something He seemed to have forgotten about only letting me loose on water. We let the Pacer loose on two testers - one fast, one slow. Who was feeding him or even letting him loose on occasions? ► be at a loose end After her husband died, Mildred found herself suddenly at loose ends. I felt rather at a loose end at the end of the term so I decided to take a trip to London. Bert, Alice was pleased to see, missed Jasper, tended to be at a loose end. He was at a loose end. One's best friend's cousin's daughter might well be at a loose end after leaving art college. Rhoda had died a year or two ago, and we had heard that Ralph was at loose ends. So, through no fault of my own, I was at a loose end quite a bit. They'd be at a loose end when it was over, which would be the time to approach them. ► loose ends But when the loose ends begin to jell, Smith is back on track with an interesting story. He could not tell whether they were broken ends, or perhaps the loose ends from underwater knots that had come undone. It certainly seemed as though he was tying up all the loose ends of his life. Joey Bonanza doesn't like loose ends. Nothing remained but to tie up the loose ends of the dispute. The many loose ends and unanswered questions continue to prolong their suffering. There were still loose ends in her working week so her sister Sarah took it upon herself to tie them up. Unlike real life, the classic mystery has no loose ends. ► loose change A sharp eyed youngster should have no difficulty in spotting the loose change, that so often litter such areas. Arnold bought the club out of loose change. Bunny felt in his pocket, fiddling for loose change. Carry some loose change to make emergency public telephone calls. I fished around in my handbag, coming up with some loose change. Last night his hourly wage, about £8 in loose change was nicked from under his nose by scavenging ragamuffins. Pockets were emptied of loose change, parcels scanned as if for a malignant tumour and handbags rifled for evidence of evil intent. She would bring her loose change to Rachaela for translation into fifty-pence pieces and pounds. ► loose cannon Of course the Palace can't afford to leave her as a loose cannon. ► hang/stay loose Down a partly overgrown lane we stop outside a trailer which has a huge panel hanging loose revealing some yellow-green insulation material. Now maybe I jus' wan na hang loose. PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► come open/undone/loose etc As she reached the doors they came open, the button pressed by two people outside. His heart felt it would come loose in his body, so wildly was it beating. Some ropes had come loose and were swinging wildly in the wind. Then she felt something on her arm and discovered her scarf had come undone. Then sprinkle on water and re-trowel in come loose-use an emulsion paint brush. Think of all the things that come loose around the house. When the Thayer principalship came open in the summer of 1981, Littky applied and reentered the educational world. ► all hell broke loose Debbie told him to shut up, he slapped her, and then all hell broke loose. When a fan jumped onto the stage, all hell broke loose. A sparrow hawk appeared - and all hell broke loose! And then, all hell broke loose. But then all hell broke loose, geologically speaking, as increasing numbers of sources for the rock were discovered. Journalists woke him up in his bed with the news and, as I suspected, all hell broke loose. Not at all bad considering that all hell broke loose in September and the City was rocked by events outside its control. She started to strip off, all hell broke loose and he bolted while plain-clothes officers moved in to stage a cover-up. What actually happened was that I was as drunk as anybody in the barracks the night all hell broke loose. When the story was leaked to the press, all hell broke loose. ► play fast and loose with something And there is his willingness to play fast and loose with the facts. Besides, it is playing fast and loose with the statistics to take 1981 as the baseline for the Government's claims. In what follows, I shall play fast and loose with these words and the subtle distinctions between them. They probably see it as a place where government plays fast and loose with tax dollars. To say that the Wattersons had played fast and loose with their investors' capital was an understatement. ► have a screw loose "Fernando can be really weird sometimes." "Yeah, he's got a screw loose, no question." ► set somebody free/loose After six years in prison, Louis was set free. ► tear loose At what stage did her briefs tear loose? He had heard the pounding, too, and thought a storm shutter had torn loose. In recent months they have begun to tear loose from this platform. One error and he would have been torn loose and hurled overboard to be smothered by the driving spray. One of the clouds over Bald Hill tore loose and floated down the sky toward us. The great ice bridge had torn loose from its foundations and was starting to move downstream toward the Whirlpool. The piece of paper tore loose. Tightness throughout the abdomen making it impossible to cough or strain for fear that something will burst or will tear loose. ► tie up loose ends His new movie will tie up some of the loose ends from the last one. There are still a few loose ends to tie up before we have an agreement. 1not firmly attached not firmly fastened in place:  a loose floorboard This tooth feels very loose. The screw has come loose (=became loose). ► Do not confuse the adjective loose /luːs/ with the verb lose /luːz/ (=stop having something, become unable to find something etc): They thought they might lose their jobs.2not attached not attached to anything else:  loose papers His rear wheel spun on the loose stones. The potatoes are sold loose (=not packed in a container). The driver had forgotten to fasten the safety chain and the trailer came loose (=became unattached).3not tied tightly not tied or fastened very tightly:  a loose knot4hair if your hair is loose, it hangs freely rather than being tied back:  Her hair fell loose around her shoulders.5clothes loose clothes are big and do not fit your body tightly SYN  loose-fitting, baggy OPP  tight:  a loose sweatshirt6free free from being controlled or held in a cage, prison, or institutionbreak/get loose (=escape) A 34-year-old inmate broke loose from the sheriff’s office yesterday.turn/let/set something loose (=let something go free) Don’t let your dog loose on the beach.7not exact [usually before noun] not exact or thoroughly done:  a loose translation a loose interpretation of the law8not very controlled not strictly controlled or organizedloose federation/alliance/group etc a loose federation of political groups loose arrangement (=an arrangement that can easily be changed)9not solid not pressed tightly together in a solid massloose soil/earth10sport not under the control of either team in a game of football, rugby etc:  Sheringham was the first player to reach the loose ball.11cut loose a)to free yourself from someone or something, or their influencecut yourself loose (from something) He cut himself loose from the constraints of family life. b)American English informal to start enjoying yourself in a happy noisy way after a period of controlled behaviour:  I’m ready to cut loose and enjoy the weekend.12let (something ↔) loose to speak or behave in an uncontrolled way:  She let loose a string of four-letter words.13let somebody loose on something to allow someone to deal with something in the way they want to, when you think they will make mistakes or do something wrong:  Whatever you do, don’t let Derek loose on the garden.14be at a loose end (also be at loose ends American English) to have nothing to do:  I was at a loose end so I decided to go see an old movie.15loose ends parts of something that have not been completed or correctly done:  We’ve nearly finished, but there are still a few loose ends to be tied up (=dealt with or completed).16loose change coins that you have in your bag or pocket17loose cannon someone who cannot be trusted because they say or do things you do not want them to18hang/stay loose American English spoken used to tell someone to stay calm, or not to worry about something19body waste having a problem in which the waste from your bowels has too much liquid in it:  loose bowels20immoral old-fashioned behaving in a way that is considered to be sexually immoral:  a loose woman loose morals21talk old-fashioned not careful about what you say or who is listening:  There’s been a bit of loose talk about it.—looseness noun [uncountable]
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