relaxation

1 (physiology) the gradual lengthening of inactive muscle or muscle fibers

2 (physics) the exponential return of a system to equilibrium after a disturbance [syn: relaxation behavior]

3 a state of refreshing tranquility [syn: easiness]

4 an occurrence of control or strength weakening; "the relaxation of requirements"; "the loosening of his grip"; "the slackening of the wind" [syn: loosening, slackening]

5 freedom from activity (work or strain or responsibility); "took his repose by the swimming pool" [syn: rest, ease, repose]

6 a method of solving simultaneous equations by guessing a solution and then reducing the errors that result by successive approximations until all the errors are less than some specified amount [syn: relaxation method]

7 the act of making less strict [syn: liberalization, liberalisation]

English

Noun

relaxation

1. The act of relaxing or the state of being relaxed; the opposite of stress or tension; the aim of recreation and leisure activities.
2. A diminution of tone, tension, or firmness; specifically in pathology: a looseness; a diminution of the natural and healthy tone of parts.

   relaxation of the soft palate

3. Remission or abatement of rigor.
4. Remission of attention or application.

   relaxation of efforts

5. Unbending; recreation; a state or occupation intended to give mental or bodily relief after effort.
6. The transition of an atom or molecule from a higher energy level to a lower one.
7. The release following musical tension.

Derived terms

• dielectric relaxation
• letter of relaxation

Translations

Translations to be checked

• ttbc French: relaxation (1,5)

Related terms

• relax
• relaxable
• relaxant
• relaxate
• relaxative

References

Relaxation may refer to:

• a process or state with the aim of recreation through leisure activities or idling and the opposite of stress or tension
  • Relaxation technique
• In mechanical systems, the release of tension on a given instrument
• In physics, the transition of an atom or molecule from a higher energy level to a lower one:
  • Dielectric relaxation
  • Relaxation (NMR)
  • Relaxation time
• In mathematics,
  • Relaxation technique (mathematics), in mathematical optimization, a technique for transforming hard constraints into easier ones
  • Relaxation method, for numerically solving elliptic partial differential equations
• In computer science, the act of smoothing out a 3D mesh, or of substituting alternative program code during linking
• In music, the release of musical tension

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