relax definition | Dictionary.com

re⋅lax

[ri-laks]

–verb (used with object)

1.	to make less tense, rigid, or firm; make lax: to relax the muscles.

2.	to diminish the force of.

3.	to slacken or abate, as effort, attention, etc.

4.	to make less strict or severe, as rules, discipline, etc.: to relax the requirements for a license.

5.	to release or bring relief from the effects of tension, anxiety, etc.: A short swim always relaxes me.

–verb (used without object)

6.	to become less tense, rigid, or firm.

7.	to become less strict or severe; grow milder.

8.	to reduce or stop work, effort, application, etc., esp. for the sake of rest or recreation.

9.	to release oneself from inhibition, worry, tension, etc.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME relaxen < L relaxāre to stretch out again, loosen, equiv. to re- re- + laxāre to loosen, deriv. of laxus slack, lax

Related forms:

re⋅lax⋅a⋅tive, re⋅lax⋅a⋅tory [ri-lak-suh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

, adjective

re⋅lax⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1, 6. loosen, slacken. 2. mitigate, weaken, lessen, reduce. 4. ease. 6. unbend. 7. relent, soften.

Antonyms:
1, 6. tighten, tense.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To relax

re·lax (rĭ-lāks')

v. re·laxed, re·lax·ing, re·lax·es

v. tr.

To make lax or loose: relax one's grip.
To make less severe or strict: relax a curfew.
To reduce in intensity; slacken: relax one's efforts.
To relieve from tension or strain: The warm bath relaxed me.

v. intr.

To take one's ease; rest.
To become lax or loose.
To become less severe or strict.
To become less restrained or tense.

[Middle English relaxen, from Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxāre : re-, re- + laxāre, to loosen (from laxus, loose; see slēg- in Indo-European roots).]
re·lax'a·ble adj.

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

Relax

Re*lax"\ (r?-l?ks"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Relaxed (-l?kst"); p. pr. & vb. n. Relaxing.] [L. relaxare; pref. re- re- + laxare to loose, to slacken, from laxus loose. See Lax, and cf. Relay, n., Release.]

1. 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.

Horror . . . all his joints relaxed. --Milton.

Nor served it to relax their serried files. --Milton.

2. 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.

The statute of mortmain was at several times relaxed by the legislature. --Swift.

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

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

Syn: To slacken; loosen; loose; remit; abate; mitigate; ease; unbend; divert.

Relax

Re*lax"\, v. i. 1. To become lax, weak, or loose; as, to let one's grasp relax.

His knees relax with toil. --Pope.

2. To abate in severity; to become less rigorous.

In others she relaxed again, And governed with a looser rein. --Prior.

3. To remit attention or effort; to become less diligent; to unbend; as, to relax in study.

Relax

Re*lax"\, n. Relaxation. [Obs.] --Feltham.

Relax

Re**lax"\, a. Relaxed; lax; hence, remiss; careless.

Language Translation for : relax

Spanish: relajar(se),

German: entspannen,

Japanese: ゆるめる

More Translations »

relax

c.1420, "to make (something) less compact or dense," from O.Fr. relaxer (14c.), from L. relaxare "relax, loosen, open," from re- "back" + laxare "loosen," from laxus "loose" (see lax). Of persons, attested from 1837, "to become less formal;" meaning "to become less tense" is recorded from 1935. Relaxation "relief from work" first recorded 1548.

Main Entry: re·lax
Pronunciation: ri-'laks
Function: transitive verb
1 : to slacken or make less tense or rigid relaxing their muscles>
2 : to relieve from nervous tension
3 : to relieve from constipation <relax a mare's bowels by puttingher on wet bran> relax intransitive senses
1 of a muscle or muscle fiber : to become inactive and lengthen
2 : to cast off socialrestraint, nervous tension, or anxiety relax in crowds>

relax re·lax (rĭ-lāks')
v. re·laxed, re·lax·ing, re·lax·es

To make or become lax or loose.
To relieve or become relieved from tension or strain.

Search another word or see relax on Thesaurus | Reference

Learn to Meditate in LA
Classes in Venice CA Learn to Manage Your Stress

GreenTreeMeditation.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us