Search Result for "loosen": 
Wordnet 3.0

VERB (7)

1. make loose or looser;
- Example: "loosen the tension on a rope"
[syn: loosen, loose]

2. make less severe or strict;
- Example: "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught"
[syn: relax, loosen]

3. become less severe or strict;
- Example: "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived"
[syn: relax, loosen]

4. disentangle and raise the fibers of;
- Example: "tease wool"
[syn: tease, tease apart, loosen]

5. cause to become loose;
- Example: "undo the shoelace"
- Example: "untie the knot"
- Example: "loosen the necktie"
[syn: untie, undo, loosen]

6. make less dense;
- Example: "loosen the soil"

7. become loose or looser or less tight;
- Example: "The noose loosened"
- Example: "the rope relaxed"
[syn: loosen, relax, loose]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Loosen \Loos"en\, v. i.
   To become loose; to become less tight, firm, or compact. --S.
   Sharp.
   [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Loosen \Loos"en\ (l[=oo]s"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Loosened
   (l[=oo]s"'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Loosening.] [See Loose, v.
   t.]
   1. To make loose; to free from tightness, tension, firmness,
      or fixedness; to make less dense or compact; as, to loosen
      a string, or a knot; to loosen a rock in the earth.
      [1913 Webster]

            After a year's rooting, then shaking doth the tree
            good by loosening of the earth.       --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To free from restraint; to set at liberty..
      [1913 Webster]

            It loosens his hands, and assists his understanding.
                                                  --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To remove costiveness from; to facilitate or increase the
      alvine discharges of. --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

loosen
    v 1: make loose or looser; "loosen the tension on a rope" [syn:
         loosen, loose] [ant: stiffen]
    2: make less severe or strict; "The government relaxed the
       curfew after most of the rebels were caught" [syn: relax,
       loosen]
    3: become less severe or strict; "The rules relaxed after the
       new director arrived" [syn: relax, loosen]
    4: disentangle and raise the fibers of; "tease wool" [syn:
       tease, tease apart, loosen]
    5: cause to become loose; "undo the shoelace"; "untie the knot";
       "loosen the necktie" [syn: untie, undo, loosen]
    6: make less dense; "loosen the soil"
    7: become loose or looser or less tight; "The noose loosened";
       "the rope relaxed" [syn: loosen, relax, loose] [ant:
       stiffen]