Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Latin
Origin: relaxare 'to loosen', from laxus 'loose'

relax

 verb
     
re‧lax S3 W3
1

rest

[intransitive and transitive] to rest or do something that is enjoyable, especially after you have been working:
I just want to sit down and relax.
What Robyn needed was a drink to relax her.
A hot bath should help to relax you.
2

become calm

[intransitive and transitive] to become quiet and calm after you have been upset or nervous, or to make someone do this:
Once out of danger, he started to relax.
Relax! Everything's fine.
3

muscle

[intransitive and transitive] if you relax a part of your body or it relaxes, it becomes less stiff or less tight:
Gentle exercise can relax stiff shoulder muscles.
4

rules/laws

[transitive] to make a rule or law less strict
relax rules/regulations/controls
Hughes believes that immigration controls should not be relaxed.
5

relax your hold/grip

a) to hold something less tightly than before
relax your hold/grip on
He relaxed his grip on my arm.
b) to become less strict in the way you control something
relax your hold/grip on
The party has no intention of relaxing its hold on the country.
6

relax your concentration/vigilance etc

to reduce the amount of attention you give to something
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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