loosen
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia.
Related to loosen: unloosen
loos·en
(lo͞o′sən)v. loos·ened, loos·en·ing, loos·ens
v.tr.
1. To make looser or less tight: loosened his tie; loosened her grip on the rope.
2. To free from restraint, pressure, or strictness: loosened the requirements for graduation.
3. To free (the bowels) from constipation.
v.intr.
Phrasal Verb: To become loose or looser: My shoelace has loosened.
loosen up
1. To do stretches or light exercise before a more strenuous activity.
2. To become less strict or tense, as in one's demeanor; relax: always loosened up after he got home.
[Middle English lousnen, losnen, from losen, from los, loose; see loose.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
loosen
(ˈluːsən)vb
1. to make or become less tight, fixed, etc
2. (often foll by up) to make or become less firm, compact, or rigid
3. (tr) to untie
4. (tr) to let loose; set free
5. (often foll by up) to make or become less strict, severe, etc
6. (Medicine) (tr) to rid or relieve (the bowels) of constipation
[C14: from loose]
ˈloosener n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
loos•en
(ˈlu sən)v.t.
1. to make less tight: to loosen a belt; to loosen one's grasp.
2. to make less firmly fixed in place: to loosen a tooth.
3. to unfasten or undo, as a bond or fetter.
4. to set free from restraint or constraint.
5. to make less compact or dense: to loosen the soil.
6. to relax in strictness or severity.
7. to relieve (the bowels) of constipation.
v.i. 8. to become loose or looser (sometimes fol. by up).
9. loosen up, to become less tense or formal; relax.
loos′en•er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
loosen
- laxative - Can mean "having the power of relaxing" (from Latin laxare, "loosen").
- loess - Loam composed of matter transported by wind, from German losz, "loosen."
- resolution - From Latin resolutio-/resolution, from resolvere, meaning "to loosen or dissolve again," which was the original meaning.
- solve - First meant "loosen"—from Latin solvere, "free, unfasten."
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
loosen
Past participle: loosened
Gerund: loosening
| Imperative |
|---|
| loosen |
| loosen |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | loosen - make loose or looser; "loosen the tension on a rope" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" slack - release tension on; "slack the rope" unscrew - loosen something by unscrewing it; "unscrew the outlet plate" unscrew - loosen by turning; "unscrew the bottle cap" stiffen - make stiff or stiffer; "Stiffen the cream by adding gelatine" |
| 2. | loosen - make less severe or strict; "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught" | |
| 3. | loosen - become less severe or strict; "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived" change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" | |
| 4. | loosen - disentangle and raise the fibers of; "tease wool" | |
| 5. |  loosen - cause to become loose; "undo the shoelace"; "untie the knot"; "loosen the necktie" | |
| 6. | loosen - make less dense; "loosen the soil" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" scarify - break up; "scarify soil" | |
| 7. | loosen - become loose or looser or less tight; "The noose loosened"; "the rope relaxed" weaken - become weaker; "The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days" stiffen - become stiff or stiffer; "He stiffened when he saw his boss enter the room" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
loosen
verb
loosen up relax, chill (slang), soften, unwind, go easy (informal), lighten up (slang), hang loose, outspan (S. African), ease up or off Relax, smile; loosen up in mind and body.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
loosen
verb1. To free from ties or fasteners:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يُخَفَّف قَبْضَتَه، يُرخييَفُك، يُرْخي
povolituvolnit
løsneløsne sig
kioldódiklazuloldódik
losalosna; losa, leysa
zrahljati
gevşe mekgevşetmek
loosen
[ˈluːsn]A. VT
loosen up
A. VI + ADV (gen) → desentumecerse; (before game) → desentumecer los músculos, entrar en calor (= relax) → soltarse, relajarse
to loosen up on sb (fig) → tratar a algn con menos severidad
to loosen up on sb (fig) → tratar a algn con menos severidad
B. VT + ADV [+ muscles] → desentumecer
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
loosen
[ˈluːsən] vt [+ screw, bolt] → desserrer
[+ clothes, tie, belt] → desserrer
to loosen one's grip on sth (= hold less tightly) → relâcher sa prise sur qch
He loosened his grip on her and she wriggled free → Il relâcha son étreinte et elle se libéra en se tortillant. (= relinquish control of) → relâcher son emprise sur qch
He refused to loosen his grip on power → Il refusa de lâcher les rênes du pouvoir.
He loosened his grip on her and she wriggled free → Il relâcha son étreinte et elle se libéra en se tortillant. (= relinquish control of) → relâcher son emprise sur qch
He refused to loosen his grip on power → Il refusa de lâcher les rênes du pouvoir.
(before exercise) → s'échauffer
(= relax) → se détendre, se laisser aller
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
loosen
[ˈluːsn]1. vt (slacken, screw, belt, knot) → allentare; (rope, grip) → mollare; (clothing) → slacciare; (untie) → disfare (fig) (tongue) → sciogliere
2. vi (all senses) → allentarsi
loosen up vi + adv (before game) → sciogliere i muscoli, scaldarsi (fam) (relax) → rilassarsi
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
loose
(luːs) adjective1. not tight; not firmly stretched. a loose coat; This belt is loose.
2. not firmly fixed. This button is loose.
3. not tied; free. The horses are loose in the field.
4. not packed; not in a packet. loose biscuits.
ˈloosely adverbˈlooseness noun
ˈloosen verb
1. to make or become loose. She loosened the string; The screw had loosened and fallen out.
2. to relax (eg a hold). He loosened his grip.
ˌloose-ˈleaf adjective (of a notebook etc) made so that pages can easily be added or removed.
break loose to escape. The prisoner broke loose.
let loose to free from control. The circus trainer has let the lions loose.
a loose (not lose) screw.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
loosen
vt soltar, aflojar; Loosen your belt, please..Suelte (Afloje) el cinturón, por favor.English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.