Library / English Dictionary

RELAX

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to feel relaxed

Example:

A hot bath always relaxes me

Synonyms:

loosen up; make relaxed; relax; unlax; unstrain; unwind

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "relax" is one way to...):

affect (act physically on; have an effect upon)

Cause:

decompress; loosen up; relax; slow down; unbend; unwind (become less tense, rest, or take one's ease)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "relax"):

unbend (release from mental strain, tension, or formality)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to relax Sue

Antonym:

tense (cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious)

Derivation:

relaxant (a drug that relaxes and relieves tension)

relaxant (tending to relax or relieve muscular or nervous tension)

relaxation (a feeling of refreshing tranquility and an absence of tension or worry)

relaxer (any agent that produces relaxation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Example:

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

Synonyms:

decompress; loosen up; relax; slow down; unbend; unwind

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "relax" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "relax"):

vege out; vegetate (engage in passive relaxation)

sit back; take it easy (settle into a comfortable sitting position)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody's (body part) ----s

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue relax

Antonym:

tense (become tense, nervous, or uneasy)

Derivation:

relaxant (tending to relax or relieve muscular or nervous tension)

relaxation (freedom from activity (work or strain or responsibility))

relaxation ((physiology) the gradual lengthening of inactive muscle or muscle fibers)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Become loose or looser or less tight

Example:

the rope relaxed

Synonyms:

loose; loosen; relax

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "relax" is one way to...):

weaken (become weaker)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

relaxation (an occurrence of control or strength weakening)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make less taut

Example:

relax the tension on the rope

Synonyms:

relax; unbend

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "relax" is one way to...):

loose; loosen (make loose or looser)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "relax"):

unbrace (remove from tension)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

relaxation ((physiology) the gradual lengthening of inactive muscle or muscle fibers)

relaxer (any agent that produces relaxation)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Make less active or fast

Example:

Don't relax your efforts now

Synonyms:

relax; slack; slack up; slacken

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "relax" is one way to...):

decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

relaxation (an occurrence of control or strength weakening)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Become less severe or strict

Example:

The rules relaxed after the new director arrived

Synonyms:

loosen; relax

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "relax" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Verb group:

loosen; relax (make less severe or strict)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

relaxation (the act of making less strict)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Make less severe or strict

Example:

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

Synonyms:

loosen; relax

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "relax" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Verb group:

loosen; relax (become less severe or strict)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

relaxation (the act of making less strict)

Sense 8

Meaning:

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

Example:

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

Synonyms:

loosen up; relax

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "relax" is one way to...):

act; behave; do (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

relaxation (a feeling of refreshing tranquility and an absence of tension or worry)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Baclofen relaxes muscles by blocking certain nerve receptors in the spinal cord.

(Baclofen, NCI Dictionary)

The body utilizes alternating muscles that contract and relax to move fluids and solids from one cavity to another.

(Peristalsis, NCI Thesaurus)

The part of the nervous system that slows the heart, dilates blood vessels, decreases pupil size, increases digestive juices, and relaxes muscles in the gastrointestinal tract.

(Parasympathetic nervous system, NCI Dictionary)

It causes the diaphragm to contract and relax, which helps control breathing.

(Phrenic nerve, NCI Dictionary)

“My father!” cried I, while every feature and every muscle was relaxed from anguish to pleasure.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Let him relax for one instant, and his death-blow had come.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Oxybutynin is used to reduce bladder contractions by relaxing bladder smooth muscle.

(Oxybutynin, NCI Thesaurus)

Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) Does the patient have periods of feeling shaky, unable to relax, or feeling excessively tense?

(NPI - Periods of Feeling Shaky, Unable to Relax, or Feeling Excessively Tense, NCI Thesaurus)

It relaxes muscle tissue in blood vessels and in the prostate.

(Cardura, NCI Dictionary)

Benzodiazepines are also used to relax muscles and prevent seizures.

(Benzodiazepine, NCI Dictionary)