Loosen (Verb)
Meaning 1
Cause to become loose; "undo the shoelace"; "untie the knot"; "loosen the necktie".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- Loosen the screw by turning it counterclockwise.
- Can you help me loosen this stubborn knot.
- The physical therapist will help you loosen your stiff muscles.
- To cool down, try to loosen your collar and unbutton your shirt.
- Please loosen the tight lid so I can open the jar.
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Meaning 2
Make less severe or strict; "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The teacher will loosen the homework restrictions if the students show consistent improvement in their grades.
- The new laws aim to loosen the regulations on small businesses, making it easier for them to thrive.
- A warm bath helps to loosen tight muscles after an intense workout.
- The parents decided to loosen their rules on screen time during the summer break, allowing the kids more freedom.
- The policy changes are designed to loosen the restrictive requirements for obtaining a visa to visit the country.
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Meaning 3
Disentangle and raise the fibers of; "tease wool".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The carder's job is to loosen the fibers in the raw wool to make them suitable for spinning.
- She used a pair of hand cards to loosen the tangles in the old yarn.
- You need to use a brush or comb to loosen the knots in the fleece before washing it.
- The process of loosening the fibers makes them more suitable for the felting process.
- Gently grasp a strand and start to loosen the fibers from the underside of the knot.
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Meaning 4
Make loose or looser; "loosen the tension on a rope".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- Gently twist the faucet to loosen the corroded pipe.
- Regular exercise can help loosen stiff muscles after an injury.
- You'll need to loosen the lug nuts with a wrench before removing the tire.
- If your shoes feel tight during a run, stop to loosen the laces.
- To loosen the stubborn stain, you may need to let the solution sit for a few hours.
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Meaning 5
Make less dense; "loosen the soil".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- Add some organic matter to loosen the clay soil and improve its drainage.
- You can loosen compacted garden soil by using a garden fork to gently break it up.
- To loosen hard soil in pots, gently scrape off the top inch of soil and replace it with a mix of compost and potting soil.
- Using a shovel or spade, loosen the soil carefully around the roots of the newly planted tree to ensure air and water can reach them.
- When planting a new shrub, make sure to loosen the root ball to prevent the roots from becoming waterlogged.
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Meaning 6
Become loose or looser or less tight; "The noose loosened"; "the rope relaxed".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The rope loosened in her hands after a few minutes of struggling to undo the knots.
- The gardener had to loosen the soil around the roots of the tree to improve air circulation.
- As the day went on, her grip on the bat began to loosen, causing her to swing wildly.
- To prevent overheating, the mechanic loosened the radiator cap and allowed the steam to escape.
- After years of disuse, the rusty hinges needed to loosen before the doors could swing open smoothly.
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Meaning 7
Become less severe or strict; "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The government decided to loosen the restrictions on foreign investment to boost the economy.
- As she got older, her parents began to loosen their grip on her daily routine, giving her more freedom.
- After the company's profits increased, the management team chose to loosen the belt on employee bonuses and benefits.
- The coach's approach helped to loosen nerves among the players and enhance their performance on match day.
- The city council voted to loosen zoning laws to encourage urban development and renewal.