relax
verbtop 1 000 in film dialogue
- //ɹɪˈlæks//
To make something loose.
verb
- 1
To make something loose.
to relax a rope or cord
to relax the muscles or sinews
Horror […] all his joynts relax'd.
- 2
datedTo make something loose. To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open.
An aperient relaxes the bowels.
- 3
To become loose.
- 4
To relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress; to enable to rest; to calm down.
Amusement relaxes the mind.
- 5
To rest and become relieved of stress.
I like to relax by listening to music.
I relax in the living room.
- 6
To make something less severe or tense.
to relax discipline
to relax one's attention or endeavours
- 7
To become less severe or tense.
Tensions between the two countries have relaxed somewhat in recent weeks.
- 8
To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
The statute of mortmain[…] was at several times relaxed by the legislature.
The Court rejected the contention that the doctrine of sovereign immunity should be relaxed as inapplicable to suits for specific relief as distinguished from damage suits, saying: "The Government, as representative of the community as a whole, cannot be stopped in its tracks by any plaintiff who presents a disputed question of property or contract right."
- 9
To become more lenient.
Etymology
From Middle English relaxen, from Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxāre (“relax, loosen, open”), from re- (“back”) + laxāre (“loosen”), from laxus (“loose, free”). By surface analysis, re- + lax (“open, free, loose”).
Forms
- past tense
- relaxed
- past participle
- relaxed
- present participle
- relaxing
- third person singular
- relaxes