Talk:loose

Needs a definition for the transitive verb form

"loose" is also a transitive verb for release, untie, or detach, see loose[2,verb] at http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=loose

People don't get the adjective "these baggy pants are loose" confused with the verb "I don't want to lose my wallet", rather they get the rare verb form "loose the hounds so they can attack the intruder" confused.

(Sorry, I don't know how to make a Wiktionary definition for multiple forms or I'd add this myself.)

Skierpage 04:44, 11 October 2005 (UTC)

This definition is out of whack. There's definite confusion in the description about what "lose" is and what "loose" is.

Loose means not restrained, or contained. Lose means to no longer keep track of.

The entry for loose seems copied from the entry for lose. Middle English word for loose was "louse" (Old Norse "lauss"), not as for "lose": middle English "losen", from old English "losian",

Nathan 8 August 2006

I agree, looking through the article history, it looks like 69.178.90.247 ignored the usage note and copied over the article for "lose". I'm not sure what's been added that's relevant to the proper usage, but perhaps it would be best to revert to the last edit before August 3rd? Something needs to be done about sorting through this mess; Unfortunately I'm a little too new to wiki to feel confident mucking about with major changes.

Gravillian 24 August 2006

Right, I'm changing it. You may or may not be right about lauss but it looks like a better candidate than losian. If anyone knowledagable disagrees they can revert and explain here. J.A.Treloar 80.254.147.68 15:17, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

I repeatedly see the word "loose" used with the exact same meaning as "lose," as in, to be defeated. At first I thought it must just be a typo but I've seen it so many times over and over that I really wonder if it must be some sort of alternate spelling. I have yet to find a single dictionary that says "to loose" means to be defeated. Is there some basis for this, or are people just that stupid? 72.178.131.225 02:34, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

It isn’t a typo, it’s a misspelling. Many people are confused by the single ‘o’ of lose that is pronounced like ‘oo’, so they write it with ‘oo’. The verb "to loose" is pronounced with an ‘s’ sound and means to release. The verb "to lose" is pronounced with a ‘z’ sound and means to be defeated. —Stephen 18:50, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

I agree that the misspelling is so common now that it may already be far more common in unedited writing than the correct spelling. Will that make "Loose" the correct spelling of "Lose" in the near future? Maybe "Looze" is preferable? "Loser" and "Looser" are rarely confused in this way however. J.A.Treloar 80.254.147.68 14:53, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

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loose

The poker definitions "A player who plays many hands" and "A strategy which involves playing many hands" define nouns, but this they are in the adjective section. Are senses nouns or adjectives? — Paul G 10:08, 21 April 2008 (UTC)

In poker "loose" refers to the quality of the hands played rather than the quantity. In this sense "loose" might be considered synonymous with "optimistic".

Failed; no verification after more than a year. --EncycloPetey 15:46, 25 May 2009 (UTC)

where to put misspelling of lose in loose

I don't really want to put this under a new Etymology - but it doesn't really belong under the existing one. Perhaps a section ===Misspelling of lose=== ? Facts707 17:43, 8 April 2010 (UTC)

Very oddly, a Google Groups search (not restricting to Usenet) shows more results for "loose his|my|her mind" than for "lose...". (Restricting to "Google Groups" shows a more reasonable relative count.) In any event: We don't include misspellings unless they're "common" (see Help:Misspellings), and then, yes, AFAICT it ought to be (per the rules and also IMO) in a separate Etymology section, since we do currently divide things up by etymology.​—msh210℠ 19:20, 8 April 2010 (UTC)

Sorry for the confusion

I exchanged loose for lose

adverb

in a loose manner; loosely
(in combination): loose-fitting
hang loose ⇒ informal chiefly us to behave in a relaxed, easy fashion
Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers

--Backinstadiums (talk) 17:27, 4 December 2019 (UTC)

release somebody from obligation; fire missile

transitive verb: to release somebody from an obligation or pressure 
 transitive and intransitive verb: to fire an arrow, bullet, or other missile 
Microsoft® Encarta® 2009

--Backinstadiums (talk) 15:29, 31 March 2020 (UTC)

unloose

unloose reads un- + loose. What meaning of loose is used in that etymology? --Backinstadiums (talk) 09:42, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

on the loose

OED includes it in the entry of loose (noun). Is this nominal meaning already included ? --Backinstadiums (talk) 17:23, 30 May 2021 (UTC)