v.
- make or become less tense or anxious.
▸cause (a limb or muscle) to become less rigid.
- rest from work or engage in a recreational activity.
- make (a rule or restriction) less strict.
- straighten or partially uncurl (hair) using a chemical product.
Derivative
- relaxed adj.
- relaxedly adv.
- relaxedness n.
- relaxer n.
Etymology
ME: from L. relaxare, from re- (expressing intensive force) + laxus ‘lax, loose’.