Crossword Genius

What's tight becomes relaxed (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

thaws

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'becomes relaxed' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'what's tight' is the wordplay.
'tight' indicates anagramming the letters (tight can mean drunk).
'whats' anagrammed gives 'THAWS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for thaws that I've seen before include "friendlier times?" , "As role of Morse was to become" , "Starts to unfreeze" , "(Of snow) melts" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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