Loosen : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: Loosen	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for Loosen
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
loosen v make loose or looser; "loosen the tension on a rope" [syn: loosen, loose] Antonym(s): stiffen make less severe or strict; "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught" Synonym(s): relax, loosen become less severe or strict; "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived" Synonym(s): relax, loosen disentangle and raise the fibers of; "tease wool" Synonym(s): tease, tease apart, loosen cause to become loose; "undo the shoelace"; "untie the knot"; "loosen the necktie" Synonym(s): untie, undo, loosen make less dense; "loosen the soil" become loose or looser or less tight; "The noose loosened"; "the rope relaxed" Synonym(s): loosen, relax, loose Antonym(s): stiffen
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Loosen \Loos"en\, v. i. To become loose; to become less tight, firm, or compact. --S. Sharp.