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Loosening vs Loose - What's the difference?

loosening | loose |

As verbs the difference between loosening and loose

is that loosening is present participle of lang=en while loose is to let loose, to free from restraints.

As nouns the difference between loosening and loose

is that loosening is the act of making something looser while loose is the release of an arrow.

As an adjective loose is

not fixed in place tightly or firmly.

As an interjection loose is

begin shooting; release your arrows.

loosening

English

Verb

(head)

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of making something looser.
  • * 2013 , Michael Scott, Religious Language (page 169)
    • Turning to metaphor, the loosenings involved in metaphorical interpretation tend not to be pure but to involve a change that results in the extension of the loosened concept overlapping with but not including all of the denotations of the pre-loosened concept.

    Anagrams

    *

    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