[lax] adj [ME, fr. L laxus loose--more at slack] (14c) 1 a of the bowels: loose, open b: having loose bowels
2: deficient in firmness: not stringent "~ control" "a ~ foreman" 3 a: not tense, firm, or rigid: slack "a ~ rope" b: having an open or loose texture c: having the constituents spread apart "a ~ flower cluster"
4: articulated with the muscles involved in a relatively relaxed state syn see negligent -- lax.a.tion n -- lax.ly adv -- lax.ness n