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loosen
(redirected from loosened up)

   Also found in: Idioms 0.30 sec.
loos·en  (lsn)
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
Verb1.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"
unsnarl, disentangle, straighten out - extricate from entanglement; "Can you disentangle the cord?"
5.loosenloosen - 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"
scarify - break up; "scarify soil"
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
loosen up relax, chill (slang) soften, unwind, go easy (informal) lighten up (slang) hang loose, outspan S. African ease up or off
Translations

loosen [ˈluːsn] vt (= free) → soltar (= untie); desatar (= slacken); aflojar
loosen up vi (before game) → hacer (ejercicios de) precalentamiento;
(col) (= relax); soltarse, relajarse
loosen [ˈluːsn] loose vtdesserrer, relâcher, défaire
loosen up vi (before game) → s'échauffer;
(inf) (= relax); se détendre, se laisser aller
loosen [ˈluːsn] loose vtlösen, losmachen [+ clothing, belt etc]; lockern
loosen [ˈluːsn] vtsciogliere
loosen up vi (before game) → sciogliere i muscoli, scaldarsi;
(col) (= relax); rilassarsi

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