---
title: loosen — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «loosen» in the school dictionary: To make something less tight, firm or fixed: «loosen your belt», «loosen a screw». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loosen/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [L](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/) / loosen

# loosen

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Dad, tooth, someone, one · **What happens:** make, fix, loosen, become, control, take off · **To what, where:** something, belt, screw, rules, shoelaces, shoes

<!-- .vabout -->
«loosen» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [loosen in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/loosen.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make something less tight, firm or fixed: «loosen your belt», «loosen a screw».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:loosen:m1:1
# text = To make something less tight, firm or fixed: «loosen your belt», «loosen a screw».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
5	tight	tight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	firm	firm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	fixed	fix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	loosen	loosen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
13	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	belt	belt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	loosen	loosen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	12	parataxis	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	screw	screw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 2 | **fix** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **loosen** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | your belt |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent belt=Patient |
| 4 | **loosen** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a screw |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent screw=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To become less tight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:loosen:m2:1
# text = To become less tight.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	become	become	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
4	tight	tight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | tight *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make rules or control less strict.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:loosen:m3:1
# text = To make rules or control less strict.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	control	control	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	_
7	strict	strict	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | rules |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset rule=Product |
| 2 | **control** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | strict *property* | vn enforce-63 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Loosen your shoelaces before you take off your shoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:loosen:x1:1
# text = Loosen your shoelaces before you take off your shoes.
1	Loosen	loosen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	shoelaces	shoelace	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	off	off	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **loosen** | imperative | you *not said here* | your shoelaces |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent shoelace=Patient |
| 2 | **take off** | present | you | your shoes |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoe=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad loosened the lid of the jar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:loosen:x2:1
# text = Dad loosened the lid of the jar.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	loosened	loosen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	jar	jar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **loosen** | past | Dad | the lid of the jar |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent lid=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Turn the screw anticlockwise to loosen it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:loosen:x3:1
# text = Turn the screw anticlockwise to loosen it.
1	Turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	screw	screw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	anticlockwise	anticlockwise	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	loosen	loosen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | imperative | you *not said here* | the screw |  |  |  | anticlockwise *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent screw=Theme |
| 2 | **loosen** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | screw |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My tooth has loosened; it might fall out soon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:loosen:x4:1
# text = My tooth has loosened; it might fall out soon.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	loosened	loosen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	parataxis	_	_
9	out	out	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	soon	soon	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **loosen** | present · perfect | My tooth |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **fall out** | might | tooth |  |  |  |  | out, soon *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Loosen tight clothing if someone feels faint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:loosen:x5:1
# text = Loosen tight clothing if someone feels faint.
1	Loosen	loosen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	tight	tight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	clothing	clothing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
6	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	faint	faint	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **loosen** | imperative | you *not said here* | tight clothing |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent clothing=Patient |
| 2 | **feel** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | someone |  |  |  |  | faint *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shake your arms to loosen up before the race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:loosen:x6:1
# text = Shake your arms to loosen up before the race.
1	Shake	shake	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	loosen	loosen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	before	before	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake** | imperative | you *not said here* | your arms |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **loosen up** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  | before the race |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lots were drawn, and one fell upon our Prince, whose chains were immediately loosened.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:loosen:x7:1
# text = Lots were drawn, and one fell upon our Prince, whose chains were immediately loosened.
1	Lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	drawn	draw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nsubj	_	_
7	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
8	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	Prince	Prince	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	chains	chain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj:pass	_	_
14	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux:pass	_	_
15	immediately	immediately	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	loosened	loosen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past · passive |  | Lots |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **fall** | past | one |  |  |  |  | upon our Prince | vn occur-48.3 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme upon prince=Location |
| 3 | **loosen** | past · passive |  | chains |  |  |  | immediately *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [loosely](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loosely/)
- next →: [loosestrife](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loosestrife/)
- ↑ back to [L in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/)