Definition of: lose

(lz) v. lost, los·ing v.t.
1. To part with, as by accident or negligence, and be unable to find; mislay.
2. To fail to keep, control, or maintain: to lose one's footing; to lose one's mind.
3. To be deprived of; suffer the loss of, as by accident, death, removal, etc.: to lose a leg.
4. To fail to gain or win: to lose a prize; to lose a battle.
5. To fail to utilize or take advantage of; miss: to lose a chance.
6. To fail to see or hear; miss: I lost not a word of the speech.
7. To fail to keep in sight, memory, etc.: We lost him in the crowd.
8. To cease to have: to lose one's sense of duty.
9. To squander; waste, as time.
10. To wander from so as to be unable to find: to lose the path.
11. To outdistance or elude, as runners or pursuers.
12. To cause the loss of: His rashness lost him his opportunity.
13. To bring to destruction or death; ruin: usually in the passive: All hands were lost.
—v.i.
14. To suffer loss.
15. To be defeated.
—to lose heart To become discouraged.
—to lose oneself
1. To lose one's way, as in a wood.
2. To disappear or hide: The thief lost himself in the crowd.
3. To become engrossed.
4. To become confused or bewildered.
—to lose one's heart (to) To fall in love (with).
—to lose out U.S. Colloq. To fail or be defeated.
—to lose sight of
1. To fail to keep in sight.
2. To take no notice of; ignore or forget. [Fusion of OE losian be lost and lēosan lose]
—los′a·ble adjective