loosen
UK /ˈluːsən/ · US /ˈlusən/ verb
Forms loosens loosening loosened
- verb (transitive) To make loose. “to loosen a knot; to loosen one's grip / hold on something”
- verb (intransitive) To become loose. “I noticed that my seatbelt had gradually loosened during the journey.”
- verb (transitive) To disengage (a device that restrains).
- verb (intransitive) To become unfastened or undone.
- verb (transitive) To free from restraint; to set at liberty.
- verb (transitive) To relieve (the bowels) from constipation; to promote defecation.
- verb (transitive, obsolete) To create a breach or rift between (two parties).
- verb (intransitive, obsolete) To sail away (from the shore).
Synonyms
ease relax untighten undo unfasten liberate release set free put out slacken loose tease tease apart untie
Antonyms
Etymology
See Loose, v. t.
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “loosen”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details