relax

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Contents

English [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxāre (“relax, loosen, open”), from re- (“back”) + laxāre (“loosen”), from laxus (“loose, free”).

A man relaxing and reading a book.

Verb [edit]

relax (third-person singular simple present relaxes, present participle relaxing, simple past and past participle relaxed)

  1. (transitive) To calm down.
  2. (transitive) To make something loose.
  3. (intransitive) To become loose.
  4. (transitive) To make something less severe or tense.
  5. (intransitive) To become less severe or tense.
  6. (transitive) To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
    1953, Edward Corwin, “Section 2. Jurisdiction”, in The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation[1], page 589:
    The Court rejected the contention that the doctrine of sovereign immunity should be relaxed as inapplicable to suits for specific relief as distinguished from damage suits, saying: "The Government, as representative of the community as a whole, cannot be stopped in its tracks by any plaintiff who presents a disputed question of property or contract right."
  7. (intransitive, of codes and regulations) To become more lenient.
  8. (transitive) To relieve (something) from stress.

Antonyms [edit]

Derived terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

to make something loose
to become loose
to make something less severe or tense
to become less severe or tense
to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient
to become more lenient
to relieve (something) from stress
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Translations to be checked

Anagrams [edit]

Italian [edit]

Noun [edit]

relax m (invariable)

  1. relaxation (mental or physical)
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