relax

verb

1. 1

   cause to feel relaxed

   A hot bath always relaxes me

2. 2

   become less tense, rest, or take one's ease

   He relaxed in the hot tub

   Let's all relax after a hard day's work

3. 3

   become loose or looser or less tight

   The noose loosened

   the rope relaxed

4. 4

   make less taut

   relax the tension on the rope

5. 5

   make less active or fast

   He slackened his pace as he got tired

   Don't relax your efforts now

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

8. 8

   become less tense, less formal, or less restrained, and assume a friendlier manner

   our new colleague relaxed when he saw that we were a friendly group