relax in WordNet English dictionary

1. become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
   "He relaxed in the hot tub"; "Let's all relax after a hard day's work"
   relax  loosen up  unbend  unwind  decompress  slow down 
   
2. become loose or looser or less tight
   "The noose loosened"; "the rope relaxed"
   loosen  relax  loose 
   
3. become less severe or strict
   "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived"
   relax  loosen 
   
4. make less severe or strict
   "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught"
   relax  loosen 
   
5. cause to feel relaxed
   "A hot bath always relaxes me"
   relax  unstrain  unlax  loosen up  unwind  make relaxed 
   
6. become less tense, less formal, or less restrained, and assume a friendlier manner
   "our new colleague relaxed when he saw that we were a friendly group"
   relax  loosen up 
   
7. make less taut
   "relax the tension on the rope"
   relax  unbend 
   
8. make less active or fast
   "He slackened his pace as he got tired"; "Don't relax your efforts now"
   slack  slacken  slack up  relax