loos·en (l s n)v. loos·ened, loos·en·ing, loos·ens v.tr.1. To untie or make looser. 2. To free from restraint, pressure, or strictness. 3. To free (the bowels) from constipation. v.intr. To become loose or looser.
[Middle English lousnen, losnen, from losen, from los, loose; see loose.] |
loosen Verb 1. to make or become less tight: loosen and relax the ankle 2. (often foll. by up)to make or become less firm, compact, or rigid: massage is used first to loosen up the muscles 3. to untie 4. (often foll. by up)to make or become less strict: the churches loosen up on sexual teachings
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Verb | 1. | loosen - make loose or looser; "loosen the tension on a rope"alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" relax, unbend - make less taut; "relax the tension on the rope" slacken, remit - make slack as by lessening tension or firmness slack - release tension on; "slack the rope" unscrew - loosen something by unscrewing it; "unscrew the outlet plate" unscrew - loosen by turning; "unscrew the bottle cap" stiffen - make stiff or stiffer; "Stiffen the cream by adding gelatine" | | 2. | loosen - make less severe or strict; "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught"alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" loosen, relax - become less severe or strict; "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived" | | 3. | loosen - become less severe or strict; "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived"change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" loosen, relax - make less severe or strict; "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught" | | 4. | loosen - disentangle and raise the fibers of; "tease wool" | | 5. | loosen - cause to become loose; "undo the shoelace"; "untie the knot"; "loosen the necktie"alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" | | 6. | loosen - make less dense; "loosen the soil"alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" fluff, ruffle - erect or fluff up; "the bird ruffled its feathers" | | 7. | loosen - become loose or looser or less tight; "The noose loosened"; "the rope relaxed"weaken - become weaker; "The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days" stiffen - become stiff or stiffer; "He stiffened when he saw his boss enter the room" |
loosen verb untie, undo, release, separate, detach, let out, unstick, slacken, unbind, work free, work loose, unloose
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