Lose

From Middle English losen, from Old English losian.

Full definition of lose

(transitive) To cause (something) to cease to be in one's possession or capability due to unfortunate or unknown circumstances, events or reasons.

1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 19, Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.
2011, April 15, Saj Chowdhury, Norwich 2-1 Nott'm Forest, Forest, who lost striker Kris Boyd to injury seconds before half-time, produced little after the break, with a Tyson sliced shot from 12 yards their only opportunity of note.

If you lose that ten-pound note, you'll be sorry.
He lost his hearing in the explosion.
She lost her position when the company was taken over.
To wander from; to miss, so as not to be able to find; to go astray from.I lost my way in the forest.

(transitive) To have (an organ) removed from one's body, especially by accident.
Johnny lost a tooth, but kept it for the tooth fairy.
He lost his spleen in a car wreck.
(transitive) To fail to win (a game, competition, trial, etc).
We lost the football match.

DrydenI fought the battle bravely which I lost,
And lost it but to Macedonians.

(transitive) To shed (weight).
Iâ€™ve lost five pounds this week.
(transitive) To experience the death of (someone to whom one has an attachment, such as a relative or friend).
She lost all her sons in the war.
(transitive) To be unable to follow or trace (somebody or something) any longer.
The policeman lost the robber he was chasing.
Mission control lost the satellite as its signal died down.
(transitive) To cause (somebody) to be unable to follow or trace one any longer.
We managed to lose our pursuers in the forest.
(transitive, informal) To shed, remove, discard, or eliminate.
When we get into the building, please lose the hat.
Of a clock, to run slower than expected.
My watch loses five minutes a week.
It's already 5:30? My watch must have lost a few minutes.
To cause (someone) the loss of something; to deprive of.

BaxterO false heart! thou hadst almost betrayed me to eternal flames, and lost me this glory.
2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 556:This lost Catholicism ... any semblance of a claim to special status, and also highlighted the gains which other religious formations had derived from the Revolution.

To fail to catch with the mind or senses; to miss.I lost a part of what he said.
(transitive, archaic) To cause to part with; to deprive of.

Sir W. TempleHow should you go about to lose him a wife he loves with so much passion?

Do not confuse lose with loose.

(cause to cease to be in one's possession) come across, discover, find, gain, acquire, procure, get, pick up, snag
(fail to win (something) win
(shed (weight) gain, put on
(have (somebody of one's kin) die)
(be unable to follow or trace (somebody or something) any longer) find
(shed, remove, discard, eliminate) pick up
(fail to be the winner) come first, win

From Old French los, loos, from Latin laudÄ“s, plural of laus ("praise").

1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, VI.12:That much he feared least reprochfull blame
With foule dishonour him mote blot therefore;
Besides the losse of so much loos and fame â€¦.