loosen

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To make loose.

   • to loosen a knot; to loosen one's grip / hold on something
   • After the Thanksgiving meal, Bill loosened his belt.
   • 1626, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: or A Naturall Historie, London: William Lee, Century 5, p. 111, […] after a yeares Rooting, then Shaking doth the Tree good, by Loosening of the Earth […]
2. 2

   To become loose.

   • I noticed that my seatbelt had gradually loosened during the journey.
   • The subtile shower the earth hath softned so, And with the waues, the trees tost to and fro; That the rootes loosen, and the tops downe sway, So that whole Forrests quickly swimme away.
   • The sea scurvy is attended with an universal putrefaction, the teeth loosen, old wounds that had been healed again open […]
3. 3

   To disengage (a device that restrains).

   • At Liberty th’ unfetter’d Captive stands, And flings the loosen’d Shackles from his Hands.
   • He easily comprehended, that the noise which he had heard was occasioned by his having loosened a chain which attached the image to its pedestal.
   • Her hair is drawn back under a heavy enamelled clasp. He loosens the clasp and lays it on the table.
4. ›+ 5 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To become unfastened or undone.

      • Immediately my Shackles loosened and fell away of themselves […]
   2. 5

      To free from restraint

      To free from restraint; to set at liberty.

      • This is an admirable Rule; a Painter ought to have it perpetually present in his Mind and Memory. […] it loosens his hands, and assists his understanding.
      • […] Valancourt, willing to take a more extensive view of the enchanting country, into which they were about to descend, than he could do from a carriage, loosened his dogs, and once more bounded with them along the banks of the road.
      • I thought you had more sense than […] to suppose that because you have fallen into a very common trouble, such as most men have to go through, you are loosened from all bonds of duty […]
   3. 6

      To relieve (the bowels) from constipation

      To relieve (the bowels) from constipation; to promote defecation.

      • 1626, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: or A Naturall Historie, London: William Lee, Century 1, p. 14, […] Feare looseneth the Belly; because the Heat retiring inwards towards the Heart, the Gutts and other Parts are relaxed;
      • […] omitting the vehicle of water and honey, which is of a laxative power it selfe, the powder of some Loadstones in this dose doth rather constipate and binde, then purge and loosen the belly.
      • When this Fruit [the guava] is eaten green it is binding, when ripe it is loosening.
   4. 7

      To create a breach or rift between (two parties).

      • I had rather lose the battle than that sister Should loosen him and me.
   5. 8

      To sail away (from the shore).

      • […] after the .iiii. day of oure arryuall in Britayne, the eightene shyps that we spake of before, which hadde the horsemen to conuey ouer, loosened from the further hauen with a soft wynd.

The neighborhood

• synonymloosen
• synonymrelax
• synonymslacken
• synonymuntighten
• antonymtighten
• neighborloose
• neighborunloosen
• neighborlose
• neighborunglue