English Dictionary: relax | by the DICT Development Group |
5 results for relax | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Relax \Re*lax"\, n. Relaxation. [Obs.] --Feltham. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Relax \Re**lax"\, a. Relaxed; lax; hence, remiss; careless. |