Relax /(r?-l?ks")/

imp. & p. p. Relaxed; p. pr. & vb. n. Relaxing

1. To make lax or loose; to make less close, firm, rigid, tense, or the like; to slacken; to loosen; to open; as, to relax a rope or cord; to relax the muscles or sinews.

   Horror . . . all his joints relaxed.

   Nor served it to relax their serried files.

2. To make less severe or rigorous; to abate the stringency of; to remit in respect to strenuousness, earnestness, or effort; as, to relax discipline; to relax one's attention or endeavors.

   The statute of mortmain was at several times relaxed by the legislature.

3. Hence, to relieve from attention or effort; to ease; to recreate; to divert; as, amusement relaxes the mind.
4. To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; as, an aperient relaxes the bowels.

1. To become lax, weak, or loose; as, to let one's grasp relax.

   His knees relax with toil.

2. To abate in severity; to become less rigorous.

   In others she relaxed again, And governed with a looser rein.

3. To remit attention or effort; to become less diligent; to unbend; as, to relax in study.

1. Relaxation. [Obs.]

1. Relaxed; lax; hence, remiss; careless.