RELAX

[verb] - to (cause someone to) become less active and more calm, or to (cause a part of the body to) become less stiffYou shouldn't work so hard - you should relax more. [I]I like to relax by doing the gardening. [I]After work she relaxed (= enjoyed herself calmly) with a cup of tea and the newspaper. [I]A good massage will relax your tired muscles. [T]He relaxed his grip on my arm (= He began to hold it less tightly).(figurative) The Mafia has relaxed its grip/hold on (= reduced its tight control of) local businesses. [T]When rules or controls are relaxed, they are made less severe.Twoweeks after the police relaxed security at the airports, there was a bombattack.