loosen

verb

/ˈluːsn/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they loosen	/ˈluːsn/ /ˈluːsn/
he / she / it loosens	/ˈluːsnz/ /ˈluːsnz/
past simple loosened	/ˈluːsnd/ /ˈluːsnd/
past participle loosened	/ˈluːsnd/ /ˈluːsnd/
-ing form loosening	/ˈluːsnɪŋ/ /ˈluːsnɪŋ/

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[transitive, intransitive] loosen (something) to make something less tight or strongly fixed; to become less tight or strongly fixed（使）放松，变松 synonym slacken
- First loosen the nuts, then take off the wheel.先松开螺母，然后卸下车轮。
- The rope holding the boat loosened.系船的绳子松了。
[transitive] loosen something to make a piece of clothing, hair, etc. loose, when it has been tied or fastened解开，松开（衣服、头发等）
- She loosened her hair so that it fell over her shoulders.她把头发松开垂到肩上。
[transitive] loosen your hands, hold, etc. to hold somebody/something less tightly松开，放开（手等）
- He loosened his grip and let her go.他松手放开了她。
- (figurative) The military regime has not loosened its hold on power.军事政权尚未放松对权力的控制。
[transitive] loosen something to make something weaker or less carefully managed than before（使）变弱，松散，疏远 synonym relax
- The party has loosened its links with big business.这个政党与大企业的关系疏远了。

opposite tighten

Idioms

loosen somebody’s tongue

to make somebody talk more freely than usual使无拘束地说话；使自由自在地说
- A bottle of wine had loosened Harry's tongue.一瓶酒下肚，哈里的话匣子便打开了。