loosening vs loosen

loosening is a noun but loosen is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
loosening	Yes	No	No	No
loosen	No	No	Yes	No

loosening (noun)	loosen (noun)
the act of making something less tight
an occurrence of control or strength weakening

loosening (verb)	loosen (verb)
	become loose or looser or less tight
	make loose or looser
	make less dense
	disentangle and raise the fibers of
	cause to become loose
	become less severe or strict
	make less severe or strict