Library / English Dictionary

LOOSENING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of making something less tight

Synonyms:

laxation; loosening

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("loosening" is a kind of...):

adjustment; alteration; modification (the act of making something different (as e.g. the size of a garment))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "loosening"):

undoing; unfastening; untying (loosening the ties that fasten something)

Antonym:

tightening (the act of making something tighter)

Derivation:

loosen (become loose or looser or less tight)

loosen (make loose or looser)

loosen (cause to become loose)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An occurrence of control or strength weakening

Example:

the slackening of the wind

Synonyms:

loosening; relaxation; slackening

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("loosening" is a kind of...):

weakening (becoming weaker)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "loosening"):

thaw (a relaxation or slackening of tensions or reserve; becoming less hostile)

Derivation:

loosen (become loose or looser or less tight)

loosen (make loose or looser)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

-ing form of the verb loosen

Credits