- 1
To make loose.transitive
- to loosen a knot; to loosen one's grip / hold on something
- After the Thanksgiving meal, Bill loosened his belt.
- 2
To become loose.intransitive
- I noticed that my seatbelt had gradually loosened during the journey.
- 3
To disengage (a device that restrains).transitive
- 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.
- 4
To become unfastened or undone.intransitive
- Immediately my Shackles loosened and fell away of themselves […]
- 5
To free from restraint; to set at liberty.transitive
- 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.
- 6
To relieve (the bowels) from constipation; to promote defecation.transitive
- 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;
- 7
To create a breach or rift between (two parties).obsoletetransitive
- I had rather lose the battle than that sister Should loosen him and me.
- 8
To sail away (from the shore).intransitiveobsolete
- […] after the .iiii. day of oure arryuall in Britayne, the eightene shyps that we spake of before, which hadde the horsemen to conuey ouer, loosened from the further hauen with a soft wynd.
syn. loosen · relax · slacken · untighten
ant. tighten