To draw closely together; to contract in folds or wrinkles; †to clench (the fist).

intransitive. To make violent and continuous physical effort; to exert oneself to the utmost. Also with forward, together.

To release or loose (something contracted or twisted together). transitive. To unclench (a muscle, the fist, etc.); esp. to relax (a frown or…

transitive. To undo the pleats or folds in.

transitive. To make smooth; to unknit.

transitive. To release (esp. hair) from a plait or plaits, to undo the plaits of. In early use chiefly figurative: to explain, to make sense of (a…

To render (the brow) free from wrinkles, lines, frowns, etc., by natural effort; to invest with, replace by, a calm or placid expression. Also in…

To relax, unbend.

transitive. figurative and in extended use. Chiefly in passive. Now rare.

transitive. To form (the brow) into wrinkles. Obsolete. rare.

To allow or cause (the brow) to relax from a serious, severe, or frowning aspect.

To draw (a garment) into smaller compass; to contract (the brow) into wrinkles.

transitive. To form protuberances, bosses, or knobs on or in; to make knotty; to emboss; to knit (the brows).