{
    "term": "loose",
    "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "not securely fixed where it should be; able to become separated from something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a loose button/tooth"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Check that the plug has not **come loose**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "One of the bricks feels slightly loose."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Darien shook his arm loose."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "feel", "seem"],
                "adverb": ["rather", "a little", "slightly"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "not tied together; not held in position by anything or contained in anything",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She usually wears her hair loose."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The potatoes were sold loose, not in bags."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "fall", "hang"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "free to move around without control; not tied up or shut in somewhere",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The sheep had got out and were loose on the road."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The horse had **broken loose** *(= escaped)* from its tether."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The animals ran loose without collars or leashes."
                },
                {
                    "text": "During the night, somebody had cut the boat loose from its moorings."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "break", "cut"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "not fitting closely",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "On long flights, wear loose clothing and comfortable shoes."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a loose shirt"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Clothes and Fashion"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "not tightly packed together; not solid or hard",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "loose soil"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a fabric with a loose weave"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "not strictly organized or managed",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a **loose alliance/coalition/federation**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a loose association of artists, writers and composers"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "not exact; not very careful",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "This is only a loose translation as I am not fluent in Japanese."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This book is an antidote for much of the loose thinking in the world of today."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The committees work within fairly loose guidelines."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "having or involving an attitude to sexual relationships that people consider to be morally wrong",
            "labels": "(old-fashioned)",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a young man of loose morals"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Personal qualities"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 9,
            "definition": "not in any player’s control",
            "labels": "(sport)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He pounced on a **loose ball**."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 10,
            "definition": "having too much liquid in it",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a baby with loose bowel movements"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "suddenly there was a lot of noise, arguing, fighting, etc.",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "There was a loud bang and then all hell broke loose."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to separate yourself or somebody/something from a group of people or their influence, etc.",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The organization broke loose from its sponsors."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He cut himself loose from his family."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to remain calm; to not worry",
            "labels": "(especially North American English, informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It's OK—hang loose and stay cool."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to talk too much, especially about things that are private",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be slightly strange in your behaviour",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to do something or to happen in a way that no one controls",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Teenagers need a place to let loose."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to make a noise or remark, especially in a loud or sudden way",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She let loose a stream of abuse."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to free somebody/something from whatever holds them/it in place",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She let her hair loose and it fell around her shoulders."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Who's let the dog loose?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to give somebody complete freedom to do what they want in a place or situation",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He was at last let loose in the kitchen."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A team of professionals were let loose on the project."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to treat somebody/something in a way that shows that you feel no responsibility or respect for them",
            "labels": "(old-fashioned)",
            "examples": []
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/luːs/",
                "audio": "lo/loose/loose__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/luːs/",
                "audio": "lo/loose/loose__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English loos ‘free from bonds’, from Old Norse lauss, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German los."
}