1
: having leaves secured in book form in a cover whose spine may be opened for adding, arranging, or removing leaves
loose-leaf notebook
2
: of, relating to, or used with a loose-leaf binding
loose-leaf paper

Examples of loose-leaf in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The general rule is about one teaspoon of loose-leaf tea per 1 cup of water; for large quantities, aim for 1 to 1½ ounces of tea per gallon of water. Becky Krystal, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Experience a full English tea service with unlimited samplings of loose-leaf tea, handmade tea sandwiches, nut-free scones and sweets, served on vintage dinnerware. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 14 Jan. 2024 While created for the Four Seasons hotels in the cities listed above, now travelers can indulge in the tastes and aromas of each loose-leaf blend at home during the holiday season. Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023 Each drawer contains an organic and vegan tea in loose-leaf form. Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2023 Each monthly box comes with enough loose-leaf and bagged tea for over 16 cups plus steeping guidelines and tasting notes for each variety. Taylor Fox, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2023 On a recent morning, the cafe’s owner, Ham Raz, explained that tourists often ordered loose-leaf tea with their sandwiches, scones and cakes but that British customers typically had coffee. Megan Specia, New York Times, 23 Sep. 2023 There’s a tea chest — like a bar cart, except topped with four glass jars filled with loose-leaf tea bags and stocked with speckled beige mugs. Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2023 But loose-leaf teas generally yield better results. Carol Eustice, Verywell Health, 23 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loose-leaf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of loose-leaf was in 1902

Dictionary Entries Near loose-leaf

Cite this Entry

“Loose-leaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loose-leaf. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

loose-leaf

adjective
ˈlü-ˈslēf
1
: designed so that sheets (as of paper) can be removed or inserted by opening a locking device
loose-leaf notebook
2
: of, relating to, or used with a loose-leaf binding
loose-leaf paper

More from Merriam-Webster on loose-leaf

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