relax
ri laks
- v 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 - v make less taut
relax the tension on the rope - v become loose or looser or less tight
the rope relaxed - v cause to feel relaxed
A hot bath always relaxes me - v 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 - v make less severe or strict
The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught - v become less severe or strict
The rules relaxed after the new director arrived - v make less active or fast
Don't relax your efforts now
- While you stand on the moving plates in the bent-knee position recommended for beginners, the continual vibration causes you to tense and relax your muscles to keep your balance.
- Resistance stretching centers on flexing your muscles even as you stretch them; for example, instead of simply releasing a leg lift, resist the urge to let your quad muscles relax .
- If women could relax, the theory goes, they would experience no pain, have more effective contractions and therefore a shorter labor.