loosen

verb

1. 1

   become loose or looser or less tight

   The noose loosened

   the rope relaxed

2. 2

   make loose or looser

   loosen the tension on a rope

3. 3

   make less dense

   loosen the soil

4. 4

   cause to become loose

   undo the shoelace

   untie the knot

5. 5

   disentangle and raise the fibers of

   tease wool

6. 6

   become less severe or strict

   The rules relaxed after the new director arrived

7. 7

   make less severe or strict

   The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught