loosen

To make something less tight or firm, or to become less tight or firm.

ruСделать что-то менее тугим или прочным, или стать менее тугим или прочным.esHacer que algo esté menos apretado, tenso o firme, o volverse menos apretado, tenso o firme.frRendre quelque chose moins serré, moins tendu ou moins fixe, ou devenir moins serré ou moins tendu.deEtwas weniger fest oder straff machen oder lockern; auch: sich lockern oder nachgeben.ptTornar algo menos apertado, firme ou tenso, ou ficar menos apertado, firme ou tenso.zh使某物变得不那么紧或牢固，或变得不那么紧或牢固。arجعل الشيء أقل إحكامًا أو شدةً أو تثبيتًا، أو أن يصير كذلك؛ ويُستعمل أيضًا بمعنى فكّ العقدة أو تخفيف التوتّر.

1. Make less tight or firm B1 formal

   To cause something to become less tight, fixed, or firmly held.

   • He loosened his tie after the long meeting.
   • She loosened the jar lid with a cloth.
   • The mechanic loosened the bolts on the wheel.

   ruОслабитьesaflojarfrDesserrerdeLockernptAfrouxarzh放松arإرخاء

   Sinônimos: easelooserelaxreleaseslacken

   Antônimos: tighten

2. Make less strict or severe B2 formal

   To reduce the strictness, severity, or intensity of rules, restrictions, or control.

   • The government decided to loosen the lockdown restrictions.
   • The teacher loosened the deadline for the assignment.
   • They loosened the rules on dress code at the office.

   ruОслабитьesaflojar (restricciones)frassouplirdeLockernptAfrouxarzh放宽arتخفيف الصرامة

   Sinônimos: alleviateeaselessenmitigatemoderatereducerelaxslackensoftentemper

   Antônimos: stiffenstrengthentighten

3. Become less tight or strict B2 formal

   To become less tight, fixed, or severe.

   • His grip on the rope loosened as he grew tired.
   • The regulations loosened over time.
   • Her muscles loosened after a warm bath.

   ruОслабнутьesAflojarsefrse relâcherdeSich lockernptAfrouxarzh变松arيَرْتَخي

   Sinônimos: easelet uploosen uprelaxslacken

   Antônimos: constrictstiffentighten

4. Disentangle fibers C1 formal

   To separate and raise the fibers of a material, such as wool or cotton.

   • The machine loosens the wool fibers before spinning.
   • She loosened the cotton to make it softer.
   • The process loosens the fibers for better weaving.

   ruРазрыхление волоконesSeparar y levantar fibrasfrDémêler les fibresdeFasern auflockernptDesfiar fibraszh松解纤维arتفكيك الألياف

   Sinônimos: cardcombflufftease

   Antônimos: entanglefeltmattangle

5. Make less dense C1 formal

   To reduce the density or compactness of something.

   • The gardener loosened the soil before planting.
   • He loosened the packed sand with a rake.
   • The mixture loosens the clay for easier molding.

   ruРазрыхлитьesAflojar, hacer menos densofrRendre moins densedeAuflockernptTornar menos densozh弄松arتفكيك الكثافة

   Sinônimos: aeratebreak upfluffrarefy

   Antônimos: compactcompresscondensepacksolidify

• loosened past participle
• loosened past simple
• loosening present participle
• loosens third person singular

Variantes phrasal: loosen up