- lose
- lose [lo͞oz]vt.lost, losing [ME losen, lesen, merging OE losian, to lose, be lost (< los, LOSS) + leosan, to lose, akin to OHG (vir)liosan, Goth (fra)liusan < IE base * leu-, to cut off, separate > Gr lyein, to dissolve; L luere, to loose, release (from debt)]1.a) to bring to ruin or destruction [a ship lost in the storm]b) Theol. to incur the damnation of [to lose one's soul]2. to become unable to find; mislay [to lose one's keys]3.a) to have taken from one by negligence, accident, death, removal, separation, etc.; suffer the loss of; be deprived ofb) to suffer the miscarriage or stillbirth of (a baby)4. to get rid of (something undesirable) [to lose unwanted weight]5. to fail to keep or maintain [to lose one's temper, to lose speed]6.a) to fail to see, hear, or understand [she did not lose a word of his speech]b) to fail to keep in sight, mind, or existence7. to fail to have, get, take advantage of, etc.; miss [to lose one's chance]8. to fail to win or gain [to lose a game]9. to cause the loss of [it lost him his job]10. to cause to go astray, become bewildered, etc.11. to wander from and not be able to find (one's way, the right track, etc.)12. to fail or be unable to make proper use of; waste [to lose time]13. to leave behind; outdistance14. to engross or preoccupy: usually in the passive [to be lost in reverie]15. to go slower by [a watch that loses two minutes a day]vi.1. to undergo or suffer loss2. to be defeated in a contest, etc.3. to be slow: said of a clock, etc.——————lose it Informal1. to fail to maintain one's composure, as by an outburst of anger, laughter, etc.2. to suffer temporary or permanent diminution of one's ability, skill, etc. [the pitcher lost it in the sixth inning]——————lose oneself1. to lose one's way; go astray; become bewildered2. to become absorbed3. to disappear from view or notice——————☆ lose outInformal to fail; be unsuccessful——————☆ lose out onInformal to fail to win, gain, or take advantage oflosableadj.
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.
