/ɹɪˈlæks/
OriginFrom Middle English relaxen, from Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxāre (“relax, loosen, open”), from re- (“back”) + laxāre (“loosen”), from laxus (“loose, free”). By surface analysis, re- + lax (“open, free, loose”).
- transitiveTo make something loose.
“to relax a rope or cord”
“to relax the muscles or sinews”
“Horror […] all his joynts relax'd.”
- dated, transitiveTo relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open.
“An aperient relaxes the bowels.”
- intransitiveTo become loose.
- transitiveTo relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress; to enable to rest; to calm down.
“Amusement relaxes the mind.”
- intransitiveTo rest and become relieved of stress.
“I like to relax by listening to music.”
“I relax in the living room.”
- transitiveTo make something less severe or tense.
“to relax discipline”
“to relax one's attention or endeavours”
- intransitiveTo become less severe or tense.
“Tensions between the two countries have relaxed somewhat in recent weeks.”
- transitiveTo make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
“The statute of mortmain[…] was at several times relaxed by the legislature.”
“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”
- intransitiveTo become more lenient.
Formsrelaxes(present, singular, third-person) · relaxing(participle, present) · relaxed(participle, past) · relaxed(past)