relax

Verb

relax (third-person singular simple present relaxes, present participle relaxing, simple past and past participle relaxed)

1. (transitive) To make something loose.
   • to relax a rope or cord
   • to relax the muscles or sinews
   1. (dated, transitive) To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open.
      • An aperient relaxes the bowels.
2. (intransitive) To become loose.

   Synonyms:

   expand

3. (transitive) To relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress; to enable to rest; to calm down.
   • Amusement relaxes the mind.
4. (intransitive) To rest and become relieved of stress.
   • I like to relax by listening to music.
   • I relax in the living room.2016, “Let's Learn English level 1”, in VOA Learning English, archived from the original on 30 Sep 2017, Lesson 5: Where Are You?, public domain

   Synonyms:

   chill out, unwind

5. (transitive) To make something less severe or tense.
   • to relax discipline
   • to relax one's attention or endeavours
6. (intransitive) To become less severe or tense.
   • Tensions between the two countries have relaxed somewhat in recent weeks.
7. (transitive) To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
   • The statute of mortmain[…] was at several times relaxed by the legislature.1713, Jonathan Swift, A Preface to Bishop Burnet's Introduction
   • The Court rejected the contention that the doctrine of sovereign immunity should be relaxed as inapplicable to suits for specific relief as distinguished from damage suits, saying: "The Government, as representative of the community as a whole, cannot be stopped in its tracks by any plaintiff who...1953, “Section 2. Jurisdiction”, in Edward Samuel Corwin, editor, The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation, page 589
8. (intransitive) To become more lenient.