loosen

 
Pronunciation: /ˈluːs(ə)n/

verb

[with object]
  • 1make (something tied, fastened, or fixed in place) less tight or firm: loosen your collar and tie
  • relax (one’s grip or muscles): he loosened his hold so she could pull her arms free
  • [no object] become relaxed or less tight: the stiffness in his shoulders had loosened
  • (with reference to the bowels) make or become relaxed prior to excretion: [no object]: his bowels loosened in terror
  • 2make less strict: his main mistake was to loosen monetary policy
  • make (a connection) less strong: he wanted to strengthen rather than loosen union links

Phrases

loosen someone's tongue

make someone talk freely: three quarters of a bottle of wine had loosened her tongue

Phrasal Verbs

loosen up

relax one’s muscles before taking exercise: arrive early to loosen up and hit some practice shots
become mentally relaxed: they taught me to have fun and loosen up