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   Re·lax

   /rəˈlaks/

   

   verb

   • 1. make or become less tense or anxious: "he relaxed and smiled confidently"
   • ▪ rest or engage in an enjoyable activity so as to become less tired or anxious: "the team relaxes with a lot of skiing" Similar unwindloosen upease up/offlet upslow downde-stressunbendrestreposeput one's feet uptake it easytake time offtake time outslack offbe at leisuretake one's leisuretake one's easelazeluxuriatedo nothingsit backloungelollslumpflopidleloafenjoy oneselfamuse oneselfplayentertain oneselfinformal:let it all hang outlet one's hair downunbuttonveg outhang loosestay loosechill outkick backcalmcalm downunwindloosen upmake less tense/uptighttranquillizesoothepacifycomposequietenquietOpposite be tensepsych oneself uppsych someone up
   • ▪ cause (a limb or muscle) to become less rigid: "relax the leg by bringing the knee toward the chest" Similar loosenlooseslackenunclenchweakenlessenlet upreducediminishOpposite tighten
   • ▪ make (something) less firm or tight: "Cicely relaxed her hold" Similar loosenlooseslackenunclenchweakenlessenlet upreducediminishOpposite tighten
   • ▪ straighten or partially uncurl (hair) using a chemical product.
   • 2. make (a rule or restriction) less strict while not abolishing it: "they persuaded the local authorities concerned to relax their restrictions" Similar moderatemodifytempermake less strict/formaleaseease up onloosenlessenlightenslackenalleviatemitigatequalifydiluteweakenreducediminishdecreaseinformal:let up onOpposite tighten up

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Latin relaxare, from re- (expressing intensive force) + laxus ‘lax, loose’.

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • X

     8

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