relax
/ɹɪˈlæks/ verb A2- To make something loose. · to relax a rope or cord· to relax the muscles or sinews
- To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open. · An aperient relaxes the bowels.
- To become loose.
- To relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress; to enable to rest; to calm down. · Amusement relaxes the mind.
- To rest and become relieved of stress. · I like to relax by listening to music.
- To make something less severe or tense. · to relax discipline· to relax one's attention or endeavours
- To become less severe or tense. · Tensions between the two countries have relaxed somewhat in recent weeks.
- To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
He/she/it relaxes · Past relaxed · Past participle relaxed · -ing form relaxing
Verb forms
- Base form
- relax
- He/she/it
- relaxes
- Past
- relaxed
- Past participle
- relaxed
- -ing form
- relaxing
From the library
Sherlock Holmes gave a sigh of relief, and relaxed into a smile.
An overpowering sadness took possession of the young man, his hands relaxed their hold, the objects in the room gradually lost their form and color, and his disturbed vision seemed to perceive doors and curtains open in the wall.
The keeper relaxed his hold.
Villefort left her to the care of the women, while old Barrois ran, half-scared, to his master; for nothing frightens old people so much as when death relaxes its vigilance over them for a moment in order to strike some other old person.
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