What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Loose vs Slow - What's the difference?

loose | slow | Related terms |

Loose is a related term of slow.


In lang=en terms the difference between loose and slow

is that loose is of a grip or hold, to let go while slow is to become slow; to slacken in speed; to decelerate.

As verbs the difference between loose and slow

is that loose is to let loose, to free from restraints or loose can be while slow is to make (something) run, move, etc less quickly; to reduce the speed of.

As adjectives the difference between loose and slow

is that loose is not fixed in place tightly or firmly while slow is taking a long time to move or go a short distance, or to perform an action; not quick in motion; proceeding at a low speed.

As nouns the difference between loose and slow

is that loose is (archery) the release of an arrow while slow is someone who is slow; a sluggard.

As an interjection loose

is (archery) begin shooting; release your arrows.

As an adverb slow is

slowly.

loose

English

Etymology 1

(etyl) , whence also (m), (m), via Ancient Greek.

Verb

(loos)
  • To let loose, to free from restraints.
  • * Bible, Matthew xxi. 2
    • Ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her; loose them, and bring them unto me.
  • To unfasten, to loosen.
  • To make less tight, to loosen.
  • Of a grip or hold, to let go.
  • (archery) to shoot (an arrow)
  • (obsolete) To set sail.
  • * 1611 :
    • Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
  • (obsolete) To solve; to interpret.
    • (Spenser)
    Synonyms
    * (let loose) free, release * (unfasten) loosen, unbind, undo, unfasten, untie * (make less tight) loosen, relax, slacken * (of grip or hold) let go, release * (archery) fire, shoot
    Antonyms
    * (let loose) bind, constrain * (unfasten) bind, fasten, tie * (make less tight) tighten * (of grip or hold) tighten * (archery) fast

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Not fixed in place tightly or firmly.
    • This wheelbarrow has a loose wheel.
  • Not held or packaged together.
    • You can buy apples in a pack, but they are cheaper loose .
  • Not under control.
    • The dog is loose again.
  • * Addison
    • Now I stand / Loose of my vow; but who knows Cato's thoughts?
  • Not fitting closely
    • I wear loose clothes when it is hot.
  • Not compact.
    • It is difficult walking on loose gravel.
    a cloth of loose texture
  • * Milton
    • with horse and chariots ranked in loose array
  • Relaxed.
    • She danced with a loose flowing movement.
  • Not precise or exact; vague; indeterminate.
    • a loose way of reasoning
  • * Whewell
    • The comparison employed must be considered rather as a loose analogy than as an exact scientific explanation.
  • .
    • Loose talk costs lives.
  • (dated) Free from moral restraint; immoral, unchaste.
  • * 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , I:
    • In all these he was much and deeply read; / But not a page of any thing that's loose , / Or hints continuation of the species, / Was ever suffer'd, lest he should grow vicious.
  • * Spenser
    • loose ladies in delight
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • the loose morality which he had learned
  • (not comparable, sports) Not being in the possession of any competing team during a game.
    • He caught an elbow going after a loose ball.
    The puck was momentarily loose right in front of the net.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=September 28 , author=Tom Rostance , title=Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Tomas Rosicky released the left-back with a fine pass but his low cross was cut out by Ivan Marcano. However the Brazilian was able to collect the loose ball, cut inside and roll a right-footed effort past Franco Costanzo at his near post.}}
  • (dated) Not costive; having lax bowels.
    • (John Locke)
    Synonyms
    * (not fixed in place tightly or firmly) * (not held or packaged together) separate, unpackaged * (not bound or tethered or leashed) free, untethered * (not fitting closely) baggy * (not compact) * (relaxed) loose-limbed, relaxed * (indiscreet) indiscreet * (promiscuous) polygamous, promiscuous, slutty, tarty, whorish
    Antonyms
    * (not fixed in place tightly or firmly) * (not held or packaged together) packaged * (not bound or tethered or leashed) bound, leashed, tethered, tied, tied up * (not fitting closely) close-fitting, snug, tight * (not compact) compact, firm * (relaxed) tense, tensed * (indiscreet) discreet * (promiscuous) faithful, monogamous
    Derived terms
    * break loose * cast loose * cut loose * hang loose * let loose * loosen * loose coupling * loose lip * on the loose * stay loose * turn loose

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (archery) The release of an arrow.
  • (obsolete) A state of laxity or indulgence; unrestrained freedom, abandonment.
  • (sports)
  • * 2011 , Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15210221.stm]
    • The defeat will leave manager Martin Johnson under pressure after his gamble of pairing Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood at 10 and 12 failed to ignite the England back line, while his forwards were repeatedly second best at the set-piece and in the loose .
  • Freedom from restraint.
    • (Prior)
  • * Addison
    • Vent all its griefs, and give a loose to sorrow.
  • A letting go; discharge.
    • (Ben Jonson)
    Derived terms
    * give a loose

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (archery) begin shooting; release your arrows
    • Antonyms
    * fast

    Related terms

    * (l) * (l), (l) * (l) * (l)

    Anagrams

    *

    Etymology 2

    Verb

    (head)
    • I'm going to loose this game.
    Derived terms
    * looser

    slow

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Taking a long time to move or go a short distance, or to perform an action; not quick in motion; proceeding at a low speed.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= The attack of the MOOCs , passage=Dotcom mania was slow in coming to higher education, but now it has the venerable industry firmly in its grip. Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations.}}
  • Not happening in a short time; spread over a comparatively long time.
  • * (John Milton)
    • These changes in the heavens, though slow , produced / Like change on sea and land, sidereal blast.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Charles T. Ambrose
    • , title= Alzheimer’s Disease , volume=101, issue=3, page=200, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.}}
  • Of reduced intellectual capacity; not quick to comprehend.
  • Not hasty; not precipitate; lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation.
  • * The Bible, Prov. xiv. 29
    • He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding.
  • (of a clock or the like) Behind]] in time; indicating a time [[early, earlier than the true time.
  • Lacking spirit; deficient in liveliness or briskness.
  • (of a period of time) Not busy; lacking activity.

    • Synonyms

    * See also * (taking a long time to move a short distance) deliberate; moderate * (not happening in a short time) gradual * (of reduced intellectual capacity) dull-witted * (acting with deliberation) dilatory, inactive, tardy, slothful, sluggish * (lacking spirit) boring, dull

    Antonyms

    * (taking a long time to move a short distance) fast, quick, rapid, swift * (of reduced intellectual capacity) prompt, quick * (acting with deliberation) hasty, precipitate, prompt * (lacking spirit) brisk, lively

    Derived terms

    * slow motion, slo-mo * slow-belly * slow burn * slowish * slowly * slow march * slowness * slowpoke

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make (something) run, move, etc. less quickly; to reduce the speed of.
  • To keep from going quickly; to hinder the progress of.
  • To become slow; to slacken in speed; to decelerate.
  • * '>citation
    • After about a minute, the creek bed vomited the debris into a gently sloped meadow. Saugstad felt the snow slow and tried to keep her hands in front of her.

    Synonyms

    * (keep from going quickly) delay, hinder, retard * (become slow) decelerate, slacken

    Derived terms

    * slower * slow up * slow down

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Someone who is slow; a sluggard.
  • (music) A slow song.

    • Adverb

    (er)
  • Slowly.
    • That clock is running slow .
  • * Shakespeare
    • Let him have time to mark how slow time goes / In time of sorrow.

    Anagrams

    * 100 English basic words English ergative verbs 1000 English basic words ----