loosen

2 ENTRIES FOUND:

loosen /ˈluːsn̩/ verb

loosens; loosened; loosening

loosen

/ˈluːsn̩/

verb

loosens; loosened; loosening

Learner's definition of LOOSEN

a [+ object] : to make (something) less tight or firm : to make (something) loose or looser使变松；使松开

He used a spade to loosen the soil.他用锹松土。
She loosened the cake from the sides of the pan.她沿烤盘边把蛋糕起下来。
loosen a screw拧松螺丝
After eating so much I had to loosen my belt.吃了那么多，我不得不放松腰带。
When the meeting was over he loosened his tie.会议结束后他松了松领带。
She loosened her grip/hold on the rope. [=she began to hold the rope less tightly]她松开抓住绳子的手。

— sometimes used figuratively有时用作比喻

b [no object] : to become less tight or firm : to become loose or looser变松；松开

: to become or to cause (something) to become less strict放宽；（使）变宽松

[+ object]

We want to loosen (up) the controls/restrictions that the law has imposed.我们希望放宽这项法律的管制/限制。
Each generation seems to loosen the established standards of behavior.每一代人似乎都对既定的行为准则有所放宽。

[no object]

loosen someone's tongue

: to cause someone to talk more freely : to cause someone to say things that would not usually be said使畅所欲言

[phrasal verb]

: to make or become less tense : relax（使）放松，变轻松

He loosens up by exercising.他通过运动来放松。
After a couple of drinks she had loosened up and was talking freely.喝了几杯之后她放松了下来，打开了话匣子。
He seemed nervous and his friends kept telling him to loosen up.他看起来很紧张，朋友们不停地劝他要放松。

loosen (someone or something) up or loosen up (someone or something) : to cause (someone or something) to relax使放松

He exercises to loosen up his muscles. [=he exercises so that his muscles are not stiff]他通过运动来放松肌肉。
I tried to loosen her up [=I tried to get her to relax and feel comfortable] by telling a few jokes.我讲了几个笑话力图让她放松。