laxō āvī, ātus, āre laxus, to extend, make wide, open, expand: forum: manipulos, Cs.: ubi laxatas sensit custodias, L.

—To open, undo, unloose, release: vincla epistolae, N.: pedem ab nodo, L.: claustra portarum, Iu.

—To slacken, relax, unbend: arcum, Ph.: excussos rudentīs, V.: laxatis habenis invehi, Cu.: se cutis arida laxet, Iu.

— Fig., to lighten, relieve, free, unbend, recreate: iudicum animos: animum ab adsiduis laboribus, L.: libidinum vinculis laxati.

—To relax, mitigate, moderate, weaken: sibi aliquid laboris, L.: quies laxaverat artūs, V.: laxata pugna, interrupted, L.

—To lessen, abate, reduce: annonam, L.: annona laxaverat (sc. se), L.