1. (

• relax ,
• loosen_up ,
• unbend ,
• unwind ,
• decompress ,
• slow_down

) become less tense, rest, or take one's ease; "He relaxed in the hot tub"; "Let's all relax after a hard day's work" ;

2. (

• relax ,
• unbend

) make less taut; "relax the tension on the rope" ;

3. (

• loosen ,
• relax ,
• loose ,

) become loose or looser or less tight; "The noose loosened"; "the rope relaxed" ;

4. (

• relax ,
• unstrain ,
• unlax ,
• loosen_up ,
• unwind ,
• make_relaxed

) cause to feel relaxed; "A hot bath always relaxes me" ;

5. (

• relax ,
• loosen_up ,

) become less tense, less formal, or less restrained, and assume a friendlier manner; "our new colleague relaxed when he saw that we were a friendly group" ;

6. (

• relax ,
• loosen ,

) make less severe or strict; "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught" ;

7. (

• relax ,
• loosen

) become less severe or strict; "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived" ;

8. (

• slack ,
• slacken ,
• slack_up ,
• relax ,

) make less active or fast; "He slackened his pace as he got tired"; "Don't relax your efforts now" ;