Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Relax
Re-lax′
(r?-l?ks′)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Relaxed
(-l?kst′)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Relaxing
.] 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 mind4.
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.
Re-lax′
,Verb.
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
And governed with a looser rein.
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 studyRe-lax′
,Noun.
Relaxation.
[Obs.]
Feltham.
Re--lax′
,Adj.
Relaxed; lax; hence, remiss; careless.
Webster 1828 Edition
Relax
RELAX'
,Verb.
T.
1.
To slacken; to make less tense or rigid; as, to relax a rope or cord; to relax the muscles or sinews; to relax the reins in riding.2.
To loosen; to make less close or firm; as, to relax the joints.3.
To make less severe or rigorous; to remit or abate in strictness; as, to relax a law or rule of justice; to relax a demand.4.
To remit or abate in attention, assiduity or labor; as, to relax study; to relax exertions or efforts.5.
To unbend; to ease; to relieve from close attention; as, conversation relaxes the student or the mind.6.
To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; as, medicines relax the bowels.7.
To open; to loose.8.
To make languid.RELAX'
,Verb.
I.
1.
To abate in severity; to become more mild or less rigorous.In others she relax'd again, and govern'd with a looser rein.
2.
To remit in close attention. It is useful for the student to relax often, and give himself to exercise and amusements.RELAX'
,Noun.
Definition 2024
relax
relax
English
Verb
relax (third-person singular simple present relaxes, present participle relaxing, simple past and past participle relaxed)
- (transitive) To calm down.
- (transitive) To make something loose.
- to relax a rope or cord; to relax the muscles or sinews
- Milton
- Horror […] all his joints relaxed.
- (intransitive) To become loose.
- (transitive) To make something less severe or tense.
- to relax discipline; to relax one's attention or endeavours
- (intransitive) To become less severe or tense.
- (transitive) To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
- Jonathan Swift
- The stature of mortmain was at several times relaxed by the legislature.
- 1953, Edward Corwin, “Section 2. Jurisdiction”, in The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation, page 589:
- 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 presents a disputed question of property or contract right."
- Jonathan Swift
- (intransitive, of codes and regulations) To become more lenient.
- (transitive) To relieve (something) from stress.
- Amusement relaxes the mind.
- (transitive, dated) To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open.
- An aperient relaxes the bowels.
Antonyms
Derived terms
Translations
to calm down
to make something loose
|
to become loose
to make something less severe or tense
|
to become less severe or tense
|
|
to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient
to become more lenient
|
to relieve (something) from stress
|
