loosen
    v 1: make loose or looser; "loosen the tension on a rope" [syn:
         loosen, loose] [ant: stiffen]
    2: make less severe or strict; "The government relaxed the
       curfew after most of the rebels were caught" [syn: relax,
       loosen]
    3: become less severe or strict; "The rules relaxed after the
       new director arrived" [syn: relax, loosen]
    4: disentangle and raise the fibers of; "tease wool" [syn:
       tease, tease apart, loosen]
    5: cause to become loose; "undo the shoelace"; "untie the knot";
       "loosen the necktie" [syn: untie, undo, loosen]
    6: make less dense; "loosen the soil"
    7: become loose or looser or less tight; "The noose loosened";
       "the rope relaxed" [syn: loosen, relax, loose] [ant:
       stiffen]

Loosen \Loos"en\, v. i.
   To become loose; to become less tight, firm, or compact. --S.
   Sharp.
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Loosen \Loos"en\ (l[=oo]s"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Loosened
   (l[=oo]s"'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Loosening.] [See Loose, v.
   t.]
   1. To make loose; to free from tightness, tension, firmness,
      or fixedness; to make less dense or compact; as, to loosen
      a string, or a knot; to loosen a rock in the earth.
      [1913 Webster]

            After a year's rooting, then shaking doth the tree
            good by loosening of the earth.       --Bacon.
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   2. To free from restraint; to set at liberty..
      [1913 Webster]

            It loosens his hands, and assists his understanding.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   3. To remove costiveness from; to facilitate or increase the
      alvine discharges of. --Bacon.
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