different between stillness vs relaxation

English

Etymology

From Middle English stilnesse, from Old English stilnes (“stillness, quiet; absence of noise or disturbance, release, relaxation; silence, abstention from speech; absence of disturbance or molestation, tranquility, peace, security; that which appeases”), equivalent to still +? -ness.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?st?ln?s/
• Hyphenation: still?ness

Noun

stillness (countable and uncountable, plural stillnesses)

1. The quality or state of being still.

   Synonyms: calmness, motionlessness, inactivity, inertia

2. Habitual silence or quiet; taciturnity.

   Synonyms: quietness, silence

Translations

References

• stillness in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin relaxatio, relaxationis; equivalent to relax +? -ation.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /??ilæk?se???n/, /???læk?se???n/

Noun

relaxation (countable and uncountable, plural relaxations)

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. (physics) The transition of a nucleus, atom or molecule from a higher energy level to a lower one; the opposite of excitation
7. (music) The release following musical tension.

Derived terms

• dielectric relaxation
• letter of relaxation

Related terms

• relax
• relaxable
• relaxant
• relaxate
• relaxative

Translations

References

• relaxation in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.