German word

lockern

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈlɔkɐn/

Meaning

  • verblighten

Example

Musik lockert die Stimmung.

Music lightens the mood.

Illustration for lockern (lighten)

More examples

Er lockerte seine Krawatte und atmete tief.

He loosened his tie and took a deep breath.

Core concept

A tight knot being eased until it no longer pulls hard.

Common phrases

  • die Krawatte lockern

    loosen the tie

  • den Griff lockern

    loosen the grip

  • die Muskulatur lockern

    loosen the muscles

Similar words

auflockern: To spread out a crowded mass so that it becomes less compact.
lösen: To undo a knot or fastening and separate connected parts.
entspannen: To release bodily or emotional tension and restore calm.

Definition in German

eine Spannung, Verbindung oder Regel so verändern, dass sie weniger streng oder fest ist

Word origin

The verb lockern is formed from locker, meaning 'loose', with a verb-forming ending and developed the causative sense of making something less tight.

Usage tips

  • As a transitive verb, lockern takes an accusative object, as in die Stimmung lockern; sich lockern means 'become looser'.

Other meanings

  • loosenverb
  • loosen upverb

Opposites

  • festziehentightenverb
  • verkrampfentense upverb

Related words

  • lockerlooseadjective
  • Lockerunglooseningnoun

Word lists with this word