1. (n.) 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.

2. (n.) 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.

3. (n.) Hence, to relieve from attention or effort; to ease; to recreate; to divert; as, amusement relaxes the mind.

4. (n.) To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; as, an aperient relaxes the bowels.

5. (v. i.) To become lax, weak, or loose; as, to let one's grasp relax.

6. (v. i.) To abate in severity; to become less rigorous.

7. (v. i.) To remit attention or effort; to become less diligent; to unbend; as, to relax in study.

8. (n.) Relaxation.

9. (a.) Relaxed; lax; hence, remiss; careless.

abate admit admit exceptions allow allow for amuse arrest backpedal backwater bate be at ease be easy be relaxed beguile beguile the time bend brake calm down check clip the wings collect collect oneself compose compose oneself concede consider consider the circumstances consider the source convulse cool it cool off curb cushion decelerate decrease delay delight detain diffuse diminish discount disjoin disperse disregard divert draw rein drown care ease ease off ease up enliven entertain exhilarate feel at home feel easy fluff forbear forgive fracture one free gentle get organized give give quarter give way grant have a ball have fun have mercy upon have pity hold back hold in check hold up impede keep back kill kill time knead knock dead laugh it up lax laxate lessen let down let go let up let up on lift temporarily limber limber up live it up loose loosen loosen up lose ground lose momentum lose speed make make allowance for mash massage mellow melt milden mitigate moderate modify modulate mollify obstruct pardon plump provide for pulp quiet down raise a laugh raise a smile recreate reduce reef refresh regale rein in relax the condition release relent relieve remit reprieve rest retard scatter set aside set back shake up simmer down slack slack off slack up slacken slake slay slow slow down slow up smash sober down soften soften up solace spare squash stand easy stay subdue submit supple take account of take in sail take into account take into consideration take it easy take pity on temper tenderize thaw throttle down tickle titillate tone down tune down unbend unbrace unglue unlax unleash unstick unstrain unstring untighten unwind waive weaken wow yield