DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
Re·lax v. t. [imp. & p. p. Relaxed p. pr. & vb. n. Relaxing.]
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.
relaxed
adj 1: without strain or anxiety; "gave the impression of being
quite relaxed"; "a relaxed and informal discussion"
[syn: at ease] [ant: tense]
2: made less tense or rigid; "his relaxed muscles"