loose
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to flow more than is natural 10 cut loose a) to break away from a group or situation b) AmE infml to stop carefully controlling one's actions: Soon the music took hold of him and he cut loose, dancing uninhibitedly. 11 keep/stay loose AmE infml to keep or stay in a calm unworried state 12 let someone loose on to allow someone to deal with something in their own way: Don't let him loose on the garden; he'll pull up all the flowers. —ly adv: Loosely translated, the word means 'important'. —ness n [U]
loose² v [T] fml or lit 1 to untie 2 to fire (an ARROW, a shot from a gun etc) 3 to free from control: The wine loosed his tongue. → compare LOOSEN
loose³ adv in a loose manner; loosely → see also fast and loose (FAST²)
loose⁴ n on the loose free, especially having escaped from prison: a dangerous criminal on the loose
,loose 'cannon n infml someone who represents an organization, especially a political party, who tends to say or do things that are unexpected, and can therefore cause a lot of problems for the organization: After her retirement, Thatcher was viewed by some as something of a loose cannon.
,loose 'change n [U] coins in one's pocket, PURSE etc
,loose 'covers n [P] covers, made of cloth, used to protect and decorate pieces of furniture, especially ARMCHAIRS and SOFAS
,loose 'end n [usually pl.] 1 a part not properly completed: The committee's report was very good, but there are still just a few loose ends (to be tied up). 2 at a loose end BrE || at loose ends AmE — having nothing to do: Can I come over? I'm at a loose end this morning.
'loose-leaf adj [A] (of a book) able to have pages put in and taken out: a loose-leaf binder (=a RING BINDER)
loos·en /'lu:sən/ v [I;T] 1 to make or become less firm, fixed, tight etc: He loosened his grip on the handle. | I loosened my tie but I didn't take it off. | The government's control over the newspapers has loosened in recent years. 2 to make or become less controlled or more free in movement: a medicine that loosens the bowels | A few drinks loosened his tongue. (=made him talk more, and probably carelessly) → compare LOOSE²
loosen up phr v 1 [I;T= loosen sthg. ⇔ up)] to (cause to) become ready for action by exercising the muscles: The runners are just loosening up before the race. | exercises to loosen up the muscles 2 [I] to become more free and relaxed (RELAX): After a few drinks we loosened up and began to enjoy ourselves.
loot¹ /lu:t/ n [U] 1 goods, especially valuable objects, taken away illegally, especially by soldiers after defeating an enemy or by thieves 2 AmE slang humor gifts, money etc considered as a group: The kids rushed downstairs to gape at their Christmas loot. | She came home from shopping with piles of loot.
loot² v [I;T] to steal, especially in large quantities, and often causing widespread damage: Anyone found looting (the bombed houses and shops) will be shot. | There was an outbreak of looting. → compare PLUNDER² —er n
Loot trademark a magazine, sold in the UK and the US, which only contains advertisements. It is typically used by people who want to sell their cars or old furniture, rent their homes, buy a house etc
lop /lɒp||lɑ:p/ v -pp- [T( AWAY, OFF)] to cut (branches) off a tree: to lop the biggest branches off (a tree) | (fig.) They've lopped a few pounds off the price.
lope /ləʊp/ v [I+adv/prep] (especially of an animal) to move easily and quite fast with springing steps: The noise alarmed the giraffe, and it loped off. —lope n [S] going off at a lope
,lop-'eared adj (of an animal) having ears that hang down loosely: a lop-eared rabbit/spaniel
Lo·pez, Jen·ni·fer /'ləʊpez, 'dʒenʃfər/ (1970–) a US actor, singer, and dancer whose films include Selena (1997) and Out of Sight (1998), and whose songs include If You Had my Love. She is known for being sexually attractive and for having a sexy BOTTOM. She is sometimes called 'J.Lo'.
'lop-sided adj having one side heavier or lower than the other; not properly balanced: a lop-sided way of walking | (fig.) The papers have been giving a rather lop-sided account of the strike.
lo·qua·cious /ləʊ'kweɪʃəs/ adj fml, often derog liking to talk a lot —ly adv —city /-'kwæsɪti/ n [U]
lo·quat /'ləʊkwɒt||-kwɑ:t/ n the small yellowish fruit of a tree that grows mostly in China and Japan
Lorca → see GARCÍA LORCA
lord¹ /lɔ:d||lɔ:rd/ n 1 a man of noble rank, especially in Britain: The feudal lords forced the king to sign the treaty. | Dukes, earls, and barons are all lords. | Lord Hailsham addressed the meeting. | WILL you step this way, my lord? → compare LADY; see also HOUSE OF LORDS 2 a powerful man in the stated industry: media lords → compare BARON 3 one's lord and master old use or humor a man who must be obeyed: Our lords and masters have changed the schedule yet again!
lord² v lord it (over someone) infml, usually derog to behave (towards someone) as if one had the power to control them, e.g. by giving orders impolitely
Lord¹ 1 also the Lord a name for God or Jesus Christ, used especially in prayers: Thank you, Lord, for your blessings. 2 Lord (only) knows old-fash infml used when you do not know the answer to something: Lord knows where I left that bag. 3 a title given to some important officials in the UK: Lord Mayor of London
Lord² interj Lord/Oh Lord/Good Lord used when you are suddenly surprised, annoyed, or worried about something: Good Lord! Is that the time? | Oh Lord, I forgot!
,Lord 'Advocate, the the most important official in Scotland's legal system. The Lord Advocate chooses new judges, suggests new laws, and decides whether or not a law needs to be changed.
,Lord 'Chamberlain, the in the UK, the person in charge of managing the royal HOUSEHOLD (=the people who live with and work for the King or Queen)
,Lord 'Chancellor, the the most important official in the legal system of England and Wales. The Lord Chancellor gives legal advice to the King or Queen, chooses new judges, and decides whether or not a law needs to be changed. He is also the SPEAKER of the House of Lords and an important member of the UK government.
,Lord 'Chancellor's De, partment, the a British government department, headed by the Lord Chancellor, which is in charge of the legal system and the courts in England and Wales, and is responsible for choosing judges. There is a similar department in the US called the DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
,Lord Chief 'Justice, the a judge who is second in importance to the Lord Chancellor in the legal system of England and Wales. The Lord Chief Justice is the judge in charge of cases which are judged at a COURT OF APPEAL.
,Lord 'Haw-Haw (1906–49) the name given to William Joyce, an Englishman who broadcast speeches from Germany during World War II in order to support the Nazis. After the war he was taken back to Britain and hanged for being a TRAITOR (=enemy of his country).
,Lord is my 'Shepherd, The the title and first words of the TWENTY-THIRD PSALM, one of the most famous Christian HYMNS
,Lord Lieu'tenant, the n pl. Lords Lieutenant in the UK, an official who represents the King or Queen in a COUNTY. The Lord Lieutenant has no real power, but performs ceremonial duties.
lord·ly /'lɔ:dli||-ɔ:r-/ adj 1 often derog behaving like a lord, especially in giving orders: a lordly manner 2 apprec, especially lit suitable for a lord; grand: a lordly feast —liness n [U]
,Lord 'Mayor, the n in the UK, the main elected officer of a city council: the Lord Mayor of Sheffield
,Lord Mayor's 'Banquet, the a BANQUET (=a formal dinner) held in the Guildhall, London every year after the new Lord Mayor of London has been elected. Many important people are invited to this banquet, including the Prime Minister, who makes a speech to mark the occasion.
,Lord 'Mayor's ,Show, the a street PARADE in which the new Lord Mayor of London travels in a golden carriage through the streets of London
,Lord of Mis'rule, the the name given to the person who was put in charge of the Christmas games and fun in England in the 15th and 16th centuries