English verb: loosen | |||
1. | loosen (change) make loose or looser | ||
Samples | Loosen the tension on a rope. | ||
Synonyms | loose | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | relax, remit, slack, slacken, unbend, unscrew, unscrew | ||
Cause | loose, loosen, relax | ||
Antonyms | stiffen | ||
2. | loosen (social) make less severe or strict | ||
Samples | The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught. | ||
Synonyms | relax | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Verb group | loosen, relax | ||
3. | loosen (social) become less severe or strict | ||
Samples | The rules relaxed after the new director arrived. | ||
Synonyms | relax | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change | ||
Verb group | loosen, relax | ||
4. | loosen (contact) disentangle and raise the fibers of | ||
Samples | Tease wool. | ||
Synonyms | tease, tease apart | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | disentangle, straighten out, unsnarl | ||
5. | loosen (contact) cause to become loose | ||
Samples | Undo the shoelace. Untie the knot. Loosen the necktie. | ||
Synonyms | undo, untie | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
6. | loosen (contact) make less dense | ||
Samples | Loosen the soil. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | fluff, ruffle, scarify | ||
7. | loosen (change) become loose or looser or less tight | ||
Samples | The noose loosened. The rope relaxed. | ||
Synonyms | loose, relax | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | weaken | ||
Antonyms | stiffen | ||