From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Looseness \Loose"ness\, n.
The state, condition, or quality, of being loose; as, the
looseness of a cord; looseness of style; looseness of morals
or of principles.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
looseness
n 1: frequent and watery bowel movements; can be a symptom of
infection or food poisoning or colitis or a
gastrointestinal tumor [syn: {diarrhea}, {diarrhoea},
{looseness of the bowels}, {looseness}]
2: freedom from restraint; "the flexibility and looseness of the
materials from which mythology is made"
3: a lack of strict accuracy; laxity of practice;
"misunderstandings can often be traced to a looseness of
expression"
4: the quality of movability by virtue of being free from
attachment or other restraints [ant: {fastness}, {fixedness},
{fixity}, {fixture}, {secureness}]
5: movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in
the steering wheel" [syn: {looseness}, {play}] [ant:
{tautness}, {tightness}]
6: dissolute indulgence in sensual pleasure [syn: {profligacy},
{dissipation}, {dissolution}, {licentiousness}, {looseness}]
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