relax

Academic Word List, sublist 9.

About 7.15 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To make something loose.

   to relax a rope or cord

2. verb To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open.

   An aperient relaxes the bowels.

3. verb To become loose.
4. verb To relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress; to enable to rest; to calm down.

   Amusement relaxes the mind.

5. verb To rest and become relieved of stress.

   I like to relax by listening to music.

6. verb To make something less severe or tense.

   to relax discipline

7. verb To become less severe or tense.

   Tensions between the two countries have relaxed somewhat in recent weeks.

8. verb To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.

Similar words

unlax slow down loosen up unstrain unbend loosen loose decompress unwind make relaxed

Often followed by

and the in your a his their for with

Word family

relaxation relaxed relaxes relaxing