| / English Dictionary |
LOOSELY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Structurally open and not compact or close
Example:
loosely structured organization
Classified under:
Pertainym:
loose ((of textures) full of small openings or gaps)
Sense 2
Meaning:
In a relaxed manner; not rigid
Example:
his hands lay loosely
Synonyms:
loosely; slackly
Classified under:
Pertainym:
loose (not tense or taut)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Without regard to specific details or exceptions
Example:
he interprets the law broadly
Synonyms:
broadly; broadly speaking; generally; loosely
Classified under:
Adverbs
Sense 4
Meaning:
In a loose manner
Example:
a union of loosely federated states
Classified under:
Adverbs
Context examples:
Failure of the ephrins/Eph kinase pathway to function normally in platelets may result in loosely associated platelets and improper clot formation.
(Platelet Aggregation Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)
The Bichon Frise has a loosely curled double coat consisting of a textured outer coat lined with a soft, fine, silky undercoat that is virtually hypo-allergenic.
(Bichon Frise, NCI Thesaurus)
The collagenous lamellae are randomly oriented and loosely intertwined.
(Immature Bone, NCI Thesaurus)
A collection of healthcare providers loosely based upon a criterion (i.e., specialty, department, credentials).
(Healthcare Provider Group, NCI Thesaurus)
They were mere skeletons, draped loosely in draggled hides, with blazing eyes and slavered fangs.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
Ether also refers loosely to diethyl-ether, a colorless, volatile, highly inflammable liquid used in industry and biomedical research, and historically important as an anesthetic agent.
(Ether, NCI Thesaurus)
The research team behind the observation says the asteroid could be a collection of small rocks, held loosely together by gravity, or it may be one solid rock with a surrounding halo of small particles.
(NASA announces latest progress in hunt for asteroids, NASA)
When HSCs are cultured with a feeder layer and observed using phase contrast microscopy, the trapped cells appear less spherical and less refractile than the HSCs that are floating loosely on top of the feeder layer.
(Cobblestone Area-Forming Cells, NCI Thesaurus)
Before I could obey, however, the tinker seized the handkerchief out of my hand with a roughness that threw me away like a feather, and putting it loosely round his own neck, turned upon the woman with an oath, and knocked her down.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Both Mr. Micawber and his eldest son wore their sleeves loosely turned back at the wrists, as being ready to lend a hand in any direction, and to tumble up, or sing out, Yeo—Heave—Yeo! on the shortest notice.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
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