relax
Verb
Verb Forms: relaxed, relaxing, relaxes
- To make or become less tense, rigid, or strict.
- 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"
- make less taut
- "relax the tension on the rope"
- become loose or looser or less tight
- "the rope relaxed"
- cause to feel relaxed
- "A hot bath always relaxes me"
- 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"
- make less severe or strict
- "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught"
- become less severe or strict
- "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived"
- make less active or fast
- "Don't relax your efforts now"
- To make something loose.
- To make something loose.
- To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open.
- To become loose.
- To relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress; to enable to rest; to calm down.
- To rest and become relieved of stress.
- To make something less severe or tense.
- To become less severe or tense.
- To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
- To become more lenient.
Examples
- Amusement relaxes the mind.
- An aperient relaxes the bowels.
- I like to relax by listening to music.
- It’s important to RELAX and enjoy the game, even when facing a tough Scrabble opponent.
- Tensions between the two countries have relaxed somewhat in recent weeks.
- to relax a rope or cord
- to relax discipline
- to relax one's attention or endeavours
- to relax the muscles or sinews
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English relaxen, from Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxāre (“relax, loosen, open”), from re- (“back”) + laxāre (“loosen”), from laxus (“loose, free”).
Synonyms
decompress, loose, loosen, loosen up, make relaxed, slack, slack up, slacken, slow down, unbend, unlax, unstrain, unwind, chill out, expand
Scrabble Score: 12
relax: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordrelax: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
relax: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary