Main Entry:

¹lax

Pronunciation:

\ˈlaks\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin laxus loose — more at slack

Date:

14th century

1 aof the bowels : loose, open b: having loose bowels2: deficient in firmness : not stringent <lax control> <a lax foreman>3 a: not tense, firm, or rigid : slack <a lax rope> b: having an open or loose texture c: having the constituents spread apart <a lax flower cluster>4: articulated with the muscles involved in a relatively relaxed state (as the vowel \i\ in contrast with the vowel \ē\)

synonyms see negligent

— lax·a·tion \lak-ˈsā-shən\ noun

— lax·ly \ˈlaks-lē\ adverb

— lax·ness noun