decompress

de- +‎ compress

• (UK) IPA^(key): /diːkəmˈpɹɛs/

decompress (third-person singular simple present decompresses, present participle decompressing, simple past and past participle decompressed)

1. (transitive) To relieve the pressure or compression on something.
2. (transitive) To bring someone (such as a diver) back to normal atmospheric pressure after being exposed to high pressure.
3. (transitive, computing) To restore (compressed data) to its original form.
4. (intransitive) To adjust to normal atmospheric pressure after being exposed to high pressure.
   • 2011, Max Gallimore, From Here to Caprock, page 354:

     There was a typical reef construction here with large plating corals at deeper depths. Thankfully, again there were many new corals. We decompressed for several minutes before boarding. Then Mike really got sick. He skipped the next dive.

5. (intransitive, informal) To relax.

• decompression

• compressed