loosen

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: loos=en
• COUNT in NET: 2 in 2 verses (in OT : 2 in 2 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

loosen, v. t. [See Loose, v. t.].

•  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."  [1913 Webster]
•  To free from restraint; to set at liberty..  [1913 Webster]

  "It loosens his hands, and assists his understanding."  [1913 Webster]
•  To remove costiveness from; to facilitate or increase the alvine discharges of.  Bacon.  [1913 Webster]

loosen, v. i. 

 To become loose; to become less tight, firm, or compact.  S. Sharp.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

loosen, v.
1 tr. & intr. make or become less tight or compact or firm.
2 tr. make (a regime etc.) less severe.
3 tr. release (the bowels) from constipation.
4 tr. relieve (a cough) from dryness.

Idiom

loosen a person's tongue make a person talk freely. loosen up = limber up (see LIMBER(1)).

Derivative

loosener n.

THESAURUS

loosen

abate, bate, cast off, cushion, cut apart, detach, diffuse, discharge, disengage, disenthrall, disjoin, disperse, doff, ease, ease off, ease up, emancipate, fluff, free, gentle, knead, lax, laxate, let down, let go, let up, liberate, limber, limber up, loose, manumit, mash, massage, mellow, milden, mitigate, mollify, plump, pulp, relax, release, remit, remove, scatter, separate, sever, shake up, slack, slack off, slack up, slacken, slake, smash, soften, soften up, squash, subdue, supple, take off, tenderize, tone down, tune down, unbar, unbend, unbind, unbolt, unbrace, unbridle, unbuckle, unbutton, uncage, unchain, unclasp, undo, unfasten, unfetter, ungag, unglue, unhandcuff, unhobble, unhook, unlace, unlash, unlatch, unleash, unlock, unloose, unloosen, unmanacle, unmuzzle, unpen, unpinion, unscrew, unshackle, unstick, unstrain, unstrap, unstring, untether, untie, untighten, untruss, unyoke, weaken, weigh anchor

ROGET THESAURUS

loosen

Incoherence

VB make loose, loosen, slacken, relax, unglue, detach.

Liberation

VB liberate, free, set free, set clear, set at liberty, render free, emancipate, release, enfranchise, affranchise, manumit, enlarge, disband, discharge, disenthrall, disenthral, dismiss, let go, let loose, loose, let out, let slip, cast adrift, turn adrift, deliver, absolve, unfetter &c, untie, loose, loosen, relax, unbolt, unbar, unclose, uncork, unclog, unhand, unbind, unchain, unharness, unleash, disengage, disentangle, clear, extricate, unloose, gain one's liberty, obtain one's liberty, acquire one's liberty, get rid of, get clear of, deliver oneself from, shake off the yoke, slip the collar, break loose, break prison, tear asunder one's bonds, cast off trammels, escape.