wind down

verb winds down · winding down · wound down

1. idiomatic, transitive To lower by winding, as with a crank or windlass. Wind down the car window if you want to talk to me.
2. idiomatic, transitive To unwind. You'd better wind down that wind-up toy before you take it apart, or pieces might go flying.
3. idiomatic, transitive To shut down slowly (by degrees or in phases). A program as complex as the Space Shuttle program takes some time to wind down.
4. idiomatic, intransitive To slow, as if coming to an end; to become calmer or less busy. The festival seems to be winding down now.
5. idiomatic, intransitive To relax; to get rid of stress; to destress. After a long day at work, she winds down by kickboxing.