Lose - loose
From Hull AWE
Lose and loose are quite often confused. Do not make this mistake!
- To lose means basically the opposite of 'to find'. In a later development, it is the opposite of 'to win'. It is pronounced with a 'z' sound at the end, IPA: /lu:z/. The past (tense and participle) is lost; the third person singular of the present tense is loses. (See lose (irregular verb).)
- To loose, as a verb, means 'to untie', or 'let go'. It is pronounced with an '˜s' sound, IPA: /lu:s/. The past (tense or participle) is loosed. A cowboy may loose his horse into the open field. (It is close to the verb to loosen, which means 'to make less tight'. A man may loosen his tie, in order to breathe more easily.)
- There is also an adjective loose. It is the opposite of 'tight'.
The spellchecker can allow you to confuse lost (the past participle of lose) with loss (a noun) (plural losses). Don't let it!
