| v. t. | 1. | To make lax or loose; to make less close, firm, rigid, tense, or the like; to slacken; to loosen; to open; |
| 2. | To make less severe or rigorous; to abate the stringency of; to remit in respect to strenuousness, earnestness, or effort; | |
| 3. | Hence, to relieve from attention or effort; to ease; to recreate; to divert; | |
| 4. | To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; | |
| v. i. | 1. | To become lax, weak, or loose; |
| 2. | To abate in severity; to become less rigorous. | |
| 3. | To remit attention or effort; to become less diligent; to unbend; | |
| n. | 1. | Relaxation. |
| a. | 1. | Relaxed; lax; hence, remiss; careless. |
| Verb | 1. | relax - 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 - make less tight; "relax the tension on the rope" Synonyms: unbend | |
| 3. | relax - become loose or looser or less tight; "The noose loosened"; "the rope relaxed" | |
| 4. | relax - cause to feel relaxed; "A hot bath always relaxes me" | |
| 5. | relax - 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" Synonyms: loosen up | |
| 6. | relax - make less severe or strict; "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught" Synonyms: loosen | |
| 7. | relax - become less severe or strict; "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived" Synonyms: loosen | |
| 8. | relax - make less active or fast; "He slackened his pace as he got tired"; "Don't relax your efforts now" |
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