adj.
Pronunciation: ' laks
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin laxus loose ― more at SLACK
Date: 14th century
1 a of the bowels : LOOSE , OPEN b : having loose bowels
2 : deficient in firmness : not stringent < lax control> <a lax foreman>
3 a : not tense, firm, or rigid : SLACK <a lax rope> b : having an open or loose texture c : having the constituents spread apart <a lax flower cluster>
4 : articulated with the muscles involved in a relatively relaxed state (as the vowel \ i \ in contrast with the vowel \ ē \ )
synonyms see NEGLIGENT
– lax · a · tion \ lak- ' s ā -sh ə n \ noun
– lax · ly \ ' laks-l ē \ adverb
– lax · ness noun