'Loosen' definitions:
Definition of 'loosen'
(from WordNet)
verb
verb
Make less severe or strict; "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught" [syn: relax, loosen]
verb
Become less severe or strict; "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived" [syn: relax, loosen]
verb
Disentangle and raise the fibers of; "tease wool" [syn: tease, tease apart, loosen]
verb
Cause to become loose; "undo the shoelace"; "untie the knot"; "loosen the necktie" [syn: untie, undo, loosen]
verb
Make less dense; "loosen the soil"
verb
Definition of 'Loosen'
From: GCIDE
- Loosen \Loos"en\, v. i. To become loose; to become less tight, firm, or compact. --S. Sharp. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Loosen'
From: GCIDE
- Loosen \Loos"en\ (l[=oo]s"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Loosened (l[=oo]s"'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Loosening.] [See Loose, v. t.]
- 1. To make loose; to free from tightness, tension, firmness, or fixedness; to make less dense or compact; as, to loosen a string, or a knot; to loosen a rock in the earth. [1913 Webster]
- After a year's rooting, then shaking doth the tree good by loosening of the earth. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To free from restraint; to set at liberty.. [1913 Webster]
- It loosens his hands, and assists his understanding. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To remove costiveness from; to facilitate or increase the alvine discharges of. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'loosen'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abate,
- bate,
- cast off,
- cushion,
- cut apart,
- detach,
- diffuse,
- discharge,
- disengage,
- disenthrall,
- disjoin,
- disperse,
- doff,
- ease,
- ease off,
- ease up,
- emancipate,
- fluff,
- free,
- gentle,
- knead,
- lax,
- laxate,
- let down,
- let go,
- let up,
- liberate,
- limber,
- limber up,
- loose,
- manumit,
- mash,
- massage,
- mellow,
- milden,
- mitigate,
- mollify,
- plump,
- pulp,
- relax,
- release,
- remit,
- remove,
- scatter,
- separate,
- sever,
- shake up,
- slack,
- slack off,
- slack up,
- slacken,
- slake,
- smash,
- soften,
- soften up,
- squash,
- subdue,
- supple,
- take off,
- tenderize,
- tone down,
- tune down,
- unbar,
- unbend,
- unbind,
- unbolt,
- unbrace,
- unbridle,
- unbuckle,
- unbutton,
- uncage,
- unchain,
- unclasp,
- undo,
- unfasten,
- unfetter,
- ungag,
- unglue,
- unhandcuff,
- unhobble,
- unhook,
- unlace,
- unlash,
- unlatch,
- unleash,
- unlock,
- unloose,
- unloosen,
- unmanacle,
- unmuzzle,
- unpen,
- unpinion,
- unscrew,
- unshackle,
- unstick,
- unstrain,
- unstrap,
- unstring,
- untether,
- untie,
- untighten,
- untruss,
- unyoke,
- weaken,
- weigh anchor