5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Relax  \Re*lax"\  (r?-l?ks"),  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Relaxed} 
  (-l?kst");  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Relaxing}.]  [L.  relaxare  pref. 
  re-  re-  +  laxare  to  loose,  to  slacken,  from  laxus  loose.  See 
  {Lax},  and  cf  {Relay},  n.,  {Release}.] 
  1.  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. 
 
  Horror  .  .  .  all  his  joints  relaxed.  --Milton. 
 
  Nor  served  it  to  relax  their  serried  files. 
  --Milton. 
 
  2.  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. 
 
  The  statute  of  mortmain  was  at  several  times  relaxed 
  by  the  legislature.  --Swift. 
 
  3.  Hence  to  relieve  from  attention  or  effort;  to  ease;  to 
  recreate;  to  divert;  as  amusement  relaxes  the  mind. 
 
  4.  To  relieve  from  constipation;  to  loosen;  to  open  as  an 
  aperient  relaxes  the  bowels. 
 
  Syn:  To  slacken;  loosen;  loose;  remit;  abate;  mitigate;  ease; 
  unbend;  divert. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Relax  \Re*lax"\,  n. 
  Relaxation.  [Obs.]  --Feltham. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Relax  \Re**lax"\,  a. 
  Relaxed;  lax;  hence  remiss;  careless. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Relax  \Re*lax"\,  v.  i. 
  1.  To  become  lax,  weak,  or  loose;  as  to  let  one's  grasp 
  relax. 
 
  His  knees  relax  with  toil.  --Pope. 
 
  2.  To  abate  in  severity;  to  become  less  rigorous. 
 
  In  others  she  relaxed  again  And  governed  with  a 
  looser  rein.  --Prior. 
 
  3.  To  remit  attention  or  effort;  to  become  less  diligent;  to 
  unbend;  as  to  relax  in  study. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  relax 
  v  1:  become  less  tense;  "He  relaxed  in  the  hot  tub"  [syn:  {unlax}, 
  {loosen  up},  {unbend},  {unwind},  {decompress},  {slow 
  down}]  [ant:  {tense}] 
  2:  make  less  tight;  "relax  the  tension  on  the  rope"  [syn:  {unbend}] 
  3:  become  loose  or  looser;  "The  noose  loosened"  [syn:  {loosen}] 
  [ant:  {stiffen}] 
  4:  cause  to  feel  relaxed;  "A  hot  bath  always  relaxes  me"  [syn: 
  {unstrain},  {unlax},  {loosen  up},  {unwind},  {make  relaxed}] 
  [ant:  {tense},  {tense}] 
  5:  become  less  tight;  "the  rope  relaxed"  [syn:  {loose}] 

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