| 1. | a part or piece left hanging, unattached, or unused: Remind me to tack down that loose end on the stairway carpet. |
| 2. | an unsettled detail, as of a business matter: The arrangements have been made, except for a few loose ends. |
| 3. | at loose ends, in an uncertain or unsettled situation or position: Ever since leaving the company, he's been at loose ends. Also, at a loose end. |
| loose end n. A minor unresolved problem or difficulty, especially a final detail preceding the completion of something. Often used in the plural. |