1. (

• relaxation ,
• loosening ,
• slackening

) an occurrence of control or strength weakening; "the relaxation of requirements"; "the loosening of his grip"; "the slackening of the wind" ;

2. (

• loosening ,
• laxation

) the act of making something less tight ;

1. (

• loosen ,
• loose ,

) make loose or looser; "loosen the tension on a rope" ;

2. (

• relax ,
• loosen ,

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

3. (

• relax ,
• loosen

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

4. (

• tease ,
• tease_apart ,
• loosen ,

) disentangle and raise the fibers of; "tease wool" ;

5. (

• untie ,
• undo ,
• loosen ,

) cause to become loose; "undo the shoelace"; "untie the knot"; "loosen the necktie" ;

6. (

• loosen

) make less dense; "loosen the soil" ;

7. (

• loosen ,
• relax ,
• loose ,

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