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loos·en

(lsən)

v. loos·ened, loos·en·ing, loos·ens

v.tr.

1. To make looser or less tight: loosened his tie; loosened her grip on the rope.

2. To free from restraint, pressure, or strictness: loosened the requirements for graduation.

3. To free (the bowels) from constipation.

v.intr.

To become loose or looser: My shoelace has loosened.

Phrasal Verb:

loosen up

1. To do stretches or light exercise before a more strenuous activity.

2. To become less strict or tense, as in one's demeanor; relax: always loosened up after he got home.

[Middle English lousnen, losnen, from losen, from los, loose; see LOOSE.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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