1. 放宽，放松（限制、法律等）
    If someone loosens restrictions or laws, for example, they make them less strict or severe.

    e.g. Many business groups have been pressing the Federal Reserve to loosen interest rates...
           不少企业集团一直在向联邦储备委员会施压，要求其放松利率管制。
    e.g. Drilling regulations, too, have been loosened to speed the development of the fields.
           钻探条例亦已放宽，以加速油田的开发。

2. （使）（关系）弱化（或疏远）
    If someone or something loosens the ties between people or groups of people, or if the ties loosen, they become weaker.

    e.g. The Federal Republic must loosen its ties with the United States...
           联邦共和国必须疏远其与美国的关系。
    e.g. The deputy leader is cautious about loosening the links with the unions...
           该政党的二把手对疏远与工会之间关系一事态度谨慎。

3. 解开；松开；变松
    If you loosen your clothing or something that is tied or fastened or if it loosens, you undo it slightly so that it is less tight or less firmly held in place.

loosen

    e.g. He reached up to loosen the scarf around his neck...
           他伸手松了松脖子上的围巾。
    e.g. Loosen the bolt so the bars can be turned...
           松一松插销，好转动门闩。

4. 使松弛
    If you loosen something that is stretched across something else, you make it less stretched or tight.

    e.g. Insert a small knife into the top of the chicken breast to loosen the skin.
           在鸡胸上方插进一把小刀，以使鸡皮不要绷得太紧。

5. 松（手）
    If you loosen your grip on something, or if your grip loosens, you hold it less tightly.

loosen的近义词

    e.g. Harry loosened his grip momentarily and Anna wriggled free...
           哈里的手稍一放松，安娜便挣脱出来。
    e.g. When his grip loosened she eased herself away.
           他紧抓她的手松了一下，她便抽身而出。

6. 放宽，放松（控制）
    If a government or organization loosens its grip on a group of people or an activity, or if its grip loosens, it begins to have less control over it.

    e.g. There is no sign that the Party will loosen its tight grip on the country...
           没有迹象显示该党会放松对国家的严密控制。
    e.g. The Soviet Union's grip on Eastern Europe loosened.
           苏联对东欧的控制已经放松。

7. 使打开话匣；使嘴不严
    If you say that something has loosened someone's tongue, you mean that it has made them talk about something, often when they should have remained silent.

    e.g. The wine had loosened his tongue.
           酒一下肚，他便打开了话匣。

相关词组：loosen up