lax

C1 · Advanced Formal

adj. not firm, tight, or tense.

adj. lacking in firmness, tension, or tightness; physically loose.

“The doctor noticed that the patient had lax muscles in his lower back.”

“The rope became lax as the weight was lowered to the ground, losing the tension it had held throughout the climb.”

C2 · Proficiency Science Technical

adj. used to describe vowel sounds made with relaxed throat muscles.

adj. produced with relatively little muscular tension and less constriction of the vocal tract compared to tense vowels.

“The short 'i' sound in 'bit' is a lax vowel.”

“Phoneticists distinguish between tense and lax vowels based on the degree of muscular effort required during articulation.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Medicine Informal · Technical

n. a short word for a medicine that helps you go to the toilet.

n. an informal clipping of laxative, referring to a substance used to stimulate bowel movements.

“The patient was advised to stop taking the lax once their digestion returned to normal.”

“Over-reliance on a strong lax can lead to long-term digestive issues if not monitored by a healthcare professional.”