The adjectiveloose means "not tight." The verblose means "not to win" or "not to keep."
Examples:
Because your belt is loose, you will probably lose your pants.
Usage Notes:
"To Get It Right: Remember the phrase, loose laces, and whenever you need to decide whether to write loose or lose, let the pronunciation of loose in the phrase guide you. (The eyelets in the shoes suggest the double o of loose.) 'Loose laces lose races' is a terrific mnemonic sentence."
(Edgar H.
Schuster, Breaking the Rules: Liberating Writers Through Innovative Grammar Instruction, Heinemann, 2003)
Practice:
(a) The button on my sleeve is _____.
(b) If I _____ that button, I'm in trouble.
Answers to Practice Exercises
Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words