Entry Word: loosen

Function: verb

Meaning: 1 to make less taut <he loosened the climbing rope so that the other climber could have more room to maneuver> — see slacken
2 to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <the secret police have ways of loosening your tongue> — see free 1
3 to set free (from a state of being held in check) <the well-known fact that alcohol tends to loosen a personʼs inhibitions> — see release 1