loosen

Definition of loosen in English English dictionary: make something less tight; unfasten
After the Thanksgiving meal, Bill loosened his belt.; {v} to let loose, unite, relax, free, part; make less dense; "loosen the soil"; become loose or looser or less tight; "The noose loosened"; "the rope relaxed" make loose or looser; "loosen the tension on a rope" make less dense; "loosen the soil; If someone loosens restrictions or laws, for example, they make them less strict or severe. Drilling regulations, too, have been loosened to speed the development of the fields. tighten + loosening loos·en·ing Domestic conditions did not justify a loosening of monetary policy; If you loosen your clothing or something that is tied or fastened or if it loosens, you undo it slightly so that it is less tight or less firmly held in place. Loosen the bolt so the bars can be turned Her hair had loosened and was tangled around her shoulders. tighten; become less severe or strict; "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived"; To make loose; to free from tightness, tension, firmness, or fixedness; to make less dense or compact; as, to loosen a string, or a knot; to loosen a rock in the earth; If someone or something loosens the ties between people or groups of people, or if the ties loosen, they become weaker. The Federal Republic must loosen its ties with the United States The deputy leader is cautious about loosening the links with the unions The ties that bind them together are loosening; disentangle and raise the fibers of; "tease wool"; To free from restraint; to set at liberty; make less dense; "loosen the soil; make loose or looser; "loosen the tension on a rope"; If a government or organization loosens its grip on a group of people or an activity, or if its grip loosens, it begins to have less control over it. There is no sign that the Party will loosen its tight grip on the country The Soviet Union's grip on Eastern Europe loosened. = relax; become loose or looser or less tight; "The noose loosened"; "the rope relaxed"; cause to become loose; "undo the shoelace"; "untie the knot"; "loosen the necktie"; If you loosen your grip on something, or if your grip loosens, you hold it less tightly. Harry loosened his grip momentarily and Anna wriggled free When his grip loosened she eased herself away. = relax tighten; make less severe or strict; "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught"; If you loosen something that is stretched across something else, you make it less stretched or tight. Insert a small knife into the top of the chicken breast to loosen the skin; {f} unbind, untie, unfasten; set free, release; make less tight, slacken; make less dense or compact; make less strict or severe; free from constipation; become loose; To become loose; to become less tight, firm, or compact; To remove costiveness from; to facilitate or increase the alvine discharges of
loosen the apron strings: To allow greater freedom (to someone); to relax control of (someone)
loosen the purse strings: To increase spending or allow increased spending; to relax control of spending
loosen up: to become loose; to loosen
loosen up: to relax, act less seriously
loosen grip: loosen a hold, make a grasp less tight
loosen up: If you loosen up your body, or if it loosens up, you do simple exercises to get your muscles ready for a difficult physical activity, such as running or playing football. Squeeze the foot with both hands, again to loosen up tight muscles Close your eyes. Relax. Let your body loosen up
loosen up: make one's body limber or suppler by stretching, as if to prepare for strenuous physical activity
loosen up: cause to become unblocked; "The medicine unstuffed my nose in minutes!"
loosen up: If a person or situation loosens up, they become more relaxed and less tense. Young people often loosen up on the dance floor I think people have loosened up their standards
loosen up: cause to feel relaxed; "A hot bath always relaxes me"
loosen up: 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"
loosen up: 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"
loosener: a usually inaccurate delivery bowled early in a bowler's first over
loosener: Something that loosens
loosened: {s} freed, released; unfastened; made less tight, slackened
loosened: past of loosen
loosened: straightened out
loosener: {i} person who loosens; that which loosens
loosener: One who, or that which, loosens
loosening: the act of making something less tight
loosening: an occurrence of control or strength weakening; "the relaxation of requirements"; "the loosening of his grip"; "the slackening of the wind"
loosening: {i} looseness, act of making something less tight; incident of weakening of control or strength
loosening: present participle of loosen
loosens: third-person singular of loosen