Loose means not firmly attached, not tight, or able to move freely. A loose tooth wobbles when you touch it with your tongue. A loose screw rattles in its hole and needs tightening. When your shoelaces come loose, they're no longer tied snugly and might trip you.

Clothes can be loose too. A loose sweater hangs comfortably on your body with room to move, unlike a tight shirt that clings. Animals that escape their enclosures are called loose: “The guinea pig got loose from its cage!” means it's running around somewhere it shouldn't be.

The word also describes things that aren't packed tightly together. Loose papers scatter easily because they're not bound in a folder. Loose change means coins rattling freely in your pocket rather than organized in a wallet. Scientists might describe loose soil as crumbly and easy to dig, while packed soil is hard and dense.

People sometimes confuse loose with lose (which means to misplace something or not win). Remember: if your loose tooth falls out, you might lose it under your bed or in the couch cushions.