Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
loosen - 4 dictionary results

loos⋅en

  [loo-suhn]
Use loosen in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to unfasten or undo, as a bond or fetter.
2. to make less tight; slacken or relax: to loosen one's grasp.
3. to make less firmly fixed in place: to loosen a tooth.
4. to let loose or set free from bonds, restraint, or constraint.
5. to make less close or compact in structure or arrangement.
6. to make less dense or coherent: to loosen the soil in a garden.
7. to relax in strictness or severity, as restraint or discipline: to loosen restrictions on trade.
8. to relieve (the bowels) of their constipated condition.
–verb (used without object)
9. to become loose or looser (sometimes fol. by up): His hold loosened. Your shoes will loosen up with wear.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME loosnen. See loose, -en 1

Related forms:
loos⋅en⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To loosen
loos·en   (lōō'sən)   
v.   loos·ened, loos·en·ing, loos·ens

v.   tr.
  1. To untie or make looser.
  2. To free from restraint, pressure, or strictness.
  3. To free (the bowels) from constipation.
v.   intr.
To become loose or looser.

[Middle English lousnen, losnen, from losen, from los, loose; see loose.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Loosen

Loos"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Loosened; 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.

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

2. To free from restraint; to set at liberty..

It loosens his hands, and assists his understanding. --Dryden.

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

Loosen

Loos"en\, v. i. To become loose; to become less tight, firm, or compact. --S. Sharp.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : loosen
Spanish: desatar,
German: (sich )lösen,
Japanese: ゆるくする
More Translations »
Search another word or see loosen on Thesaurus | Reference