(v. t.) To make less tight or tense; to loosen.

abate arrest avert backpedal backwater bate bear off brake check clip the wings curb decelerate delay detain die down diffuse disjoin disperse draw aside draw rein ease ease up ebb edge off fall fly off free gee glance glance off go off haw head off hold back hold in check hold up impede jib keep back lax let down let go let up let up on loose loosen loosen up lose ground lose momentum lose speed make way for mitigate moderate move aside obstruct reef rein in relax relent remit retard scatter set back sheer off shove aside shunt shy shy off side sidestep sidetrack sidle slack slack off slack up slacken slake slow slow down slow up stay steer clear of step aside subside switch take in sail throttle down turn aside turn away turn back unbend unbrace unglue unlax unleash unstick unstrain unstring untighten unwind veer off wane