loosen

1. (transitive) To make loose.Examples: "to loosen a knot; to loosen one's grip / hold on something"; "After the Thanksgiving meal, Bill loosened his belt."; "1626, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: or A Naturall Historie, London: William Lee, Century 5, p. 111, […] after a yeares Rooting, then Shaking doth the Tree good, by Loosening of the Earth […]"Synonyms: ease, relax, untightentransitive

2. (intransitive) To become loose.Examples: "I noticed that my seatbelt had gradually loosened during the journey."; "The subtile shower the earth hath softned so, And with the waues, the trees tost to and fro; That the rootes loosen, and the tops downe sway, So that whole Forrests quickly swimme away."; "The sea scurvy is attended with an universal putrefaction, the teeth loosen, old wounds that had been healed again open […]"intransitive

3. (transitive) To disengage (a device that restrains).Examples: "At Liberty th’ unfetter’d Captive stands, And flings the loosen’d Shackles from his Hands."; "He easily comprehended, that the noise which he had heard was occasioned by his having loosened a chain which attached the image to its pedestal."; "Her hair is drawn back under a heavy enamelled clasp. He loosens the clasp and lays it on the table."Synonyms: undo, unfastentransitive

4. (intransitive) To become unfastened or undone.Examples: "Immediately my Shackles loosened and fell away of themselves […]"intransitive

5. (transitive) To free from restraint; to set at liberty.Examples: "This is an admirable Rule; a Painter ought to have it perpetually present in his Mind and Memory. […] it loosens his hands, and assists his understanding."; "[…] Valancourt, willing to take a more extensive view of the enchanting country, into which they were about to descend, than he could do from a carriage, loosened his dogs, and once more bounded with them along the banks of the road."; "I thought you had more sense than […] to suppose that because you have fallen into a very common trouble, such as most men have to go through, you are loosened from all bonds of duty […]"Synonyms: liberate, release, set freetransitive

6. (transitive) To relieve (the bowels) from constipation; to promote defecation.Examples: "1626, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: or A Naturall Historie, London: William Lee, Century 1, p. 14, […] Feare looseneth the Belly; because the Heat retiring inwards towards the Heart, the Gutts and other Parts are relaxed;"; "[…] omitting the vehicle of water and honey, which is of a laxative power it selfe, the powder of some Loadstones in this dose doth rather constipate and binde, then purge and loosen the belly."; "When this Fruit [the guava] is eaten green it is binding, when ripe it is loosening."transitive