01 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; t…
imp. & p. p.
Loosened; p. pr. & vb. n.
Loosening
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1.
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.“After a year's rooting, then shaking doth the tree good by loosening of the earth.” — Bacon.
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2.
To free from restraint; to set at liberty..“It loosens his hands, and assists his understanding.” — Dryden.
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3.
To remove costiveness from; to facilitate or increase the alvine discharges of.