Relax
[rɪ'læks]
Definition
(verb.) cause to feel relaxed; 'A hot bath always relaxes me'.
(verb.) 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'.
(verb.) make less taut; 'relax the tension on the rope'.
(verb.) become less severe or strict; 'The rules relaxed after the new director arrived'.
(verb.) make less severe or strict; 'The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught'.
(verb.) 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'.
Edited by Colin--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) To make lax or loose; to make less close, firm, rigid, tense, or the like; to slacken; to loosen; to open; as, to relax a rope or cord; to relax the muscles or sinews.
(n.) To make less severe or rigorous; to abate the stringency of; to remit in respect to strenuousness, earnestness, or effort; as, to relax discipline; to relax one's attention or endeavors.
(n.) Hence, to relieve from attention or effort; to ease; to recreate; to divert; as, amusement relaxes the mind.
(n.) To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; as, an aperient relaxes the bowels.
(v. i.) To become lax, weak, or loose; as, to let one's grasp relax.
(v. i.) To abate in severity; to become less rigorous.
(v. i.) To remit attention or effort; to become less diligent; to unbend; as, to relax in study.
(n.) Relaxation.
(a.) Relaxed; lax; hence, remiss; careless.
Inputed by Katrina
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. a. [1]. Loosen, slacken, loose.[2]. Weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, enervate, unbrace, prostrate.[3]. Lessen, diminish, reduce, abate, remit, mitigate.[4]. Unbend, ease, divert, recreate, entertain, amuse.
v. n. [1]. Become lax.[2]. Recreate, unbend, take recreation.
Inputed by Jon
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Slacken, loosen, remit, abate, mitigate, release, unbend, relent, divert,recreate, rest, enervate, Unstring
ANT:Tighten, increase, intensify, stretch, bend, brace, invigorate, redouble, grow,heighten, strengthen
Edited by Alta
Definition
v.t. to loosen one thing away from another: to slacken: to make less close tense or rigid: to make less severe: to relieve from attention or effort: to divert: to open or loosen as the bowels: to make languid.—v.i. to become less close: to become less severe: to attend less.—adj. Relax′able.—ns. Relax′ant a relaxing medicine; Relaxā′tion act of relaxing: state of being relaxed: remission of application: unbending: looseness.—adj. Relax′ative.
Checked by Giselle
Examples
- And immediately the queer, careless, terribly attractive smile came over his eyes and brows, though his mouth did not relax. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Many different causes contributed to relax the discipline of the Roman armies. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Her warm breath playing, flying rhythmically over his ear, seemed to relax the tension. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Then she could relax and fill her own place. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- This phrase, in its senseless arrogance, quite cured me of the temporary weakness which had made me relax my tone and aspect. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- That purpose was, for months and months yet, never to relax its claims on me. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- And luxury and softness are blamed, because they relax and weaken this same creature, and make a coward of him? Plato. The Republic.
- We had reached the first houses, and were close on the new Wesleyan college, before her set features relaxed and she spoke once more. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- The others crowded around him, and even two who had hold of Gurth relaxed their grasp while they stretched their necks to see the issue of the search. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- The Ionian, he replied, and the Lydian; they are termed 'relaxed. Plato. The Republic.
- The earth of the dugout was warm and dry and I let my shoulders back against the wall, sitting on the small of my back, and relaxed. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- Already the knowledge that Dorothea had chosen Mr. Casaubon had bruised his attachment and relaxed its hold. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- Mr. Jingle's face gradually relaxed; and something distantly resembling a wink quivered for an instant in his left eye. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- After a few moments' silence, it had relaxed into its usual weak condition. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- She could feel his body gradually relaxing a little, losing its terrifying, unnatural rigidity. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- But I am sure, for all that, it is the damp and relaxing air. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- I am sure you are tired, if you've been out much this wet relaxing day. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- The old man listened with a grimace while she spoke, and then said, relaxing his face, The more fools they. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- A weakness ran over his body, a terrible relaxing, a thaw, a decay of strength. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- The heavy panting of the half-stunned mare sounded automatically, the man seemed to be relaxing confidently, his will bright and unstained. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- I'll take my Alfred David,' muttered Mr Riderhood, slowly relaxing into a dark smile, 'that you know a move. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- The old lady relaxes, consents to the admission of the visitors as a favour, and dismisses Rosa. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- A plentiful subsistence, therefore, it has been concluded, relaxes, and a scanty one quickens their industry. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
Checker: Wilmer