Hypertext Webster Gateway: "loosen"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Loosen \Loos"en\, v. i.
To become loose; to become less tight, firm, or compact. --S.
Sharp.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Loosen \Loos"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Loosened}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Loosening}.] [See {Loose}, v. t.]
1. To make loose; to free from tightness, tension, firmness,
or fixedness; to make less dense or compact; as, to loosen
a string, or a knot; to loosen a rock in the earth.
After a year's rooting, then shaking doth the tree
good by loosening of the earth. --Bacon.
2. To free from restraint; to set at liberty..
It loosens his hands, and assists his understanding.
--Dryden.
3. To remove costiveness from; to facilitate or increase the
alvine discharges of. --Bacon.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
loosen
v 1: make loose or looser; "loosen the tension on a rope" [syn: {loose}]
[ant: {stiffen}]
2: disentangle and raise the fibers of; "tease wool" [syn: {tease},
{tease apart}]
3: cause to become loos; "undo the shoelace"; "untie the knot";
"loosen the necktie" [syn: {untie}, {undo}]
4: make less dense
5: become loose or looser; "The noose loosened" [syn: {relax}]
[ant: {stiffen}]
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