recline

Universal Words verb 1 [V] ~ (against / in / on sth) (formal) to sit or lie in a relaxed way, with your body leaning backwards: She was reclining on a sofa. * a reclining figure (for example in a painting) 2 when a seat reclines or when you recline a seat, the back of it moves into a comfortable sloping position: [V] a reclining chair / seat [also VN]