Ichidan verb, transitive verb

  1. to loosen, to slacken.
  2. to relax (attention, efforts, etc.), to let down (one's guard), to relieve (tension).
  3. to relax (a rule), to ease (e.g. restrictions), to loosen (control).
  4. to reduce (speed), to slow down, to ease up.
  5. to make more gradual (of a slope).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
 
緩める ゆるめる
 
 
弛める ゆるめる

Contained Kanji Breakdown

slacken, loosen, relax
ゆる.い カン ひろ (8th, N1)
thread
いと シ (1st, N2)
short thread radical (no. 52)
ヨウ ちいさい (Kentei 1)
little, small
ショウ こ- ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ や はっ (1st, N5)
lead on to, therefore, then
エン ここ.に (Kentei 1)
paw radical
friend
とも ユウ う (2nd, N5)
left hand, cliff(厂) variant
or again, furthermore, on the other hand
また ユウ やす (8th, N1)