tense
tense /ˈtɛns/
adjective
-
Taut or rigid; stretched tight
(
tense
)
taut or rigid; stretched tight
Tense piano strings
tense piano strings
-
(phonetics) pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in 'beat')
(
tense
)
(phonetics) pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in 'beat')
-
In or of a state of physical or nervous tension
(
tense
)
in or of a state of physical or nervous tension
noun
-
(
)
A grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
(
tense
)
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
verb
-
Cause to be tense and uneasy, nervous or anxious
(
tense
, tense up
, strain
)
cause to be tense and uneasy, nervous or anxious
He got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up
he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up
-
Become tense, nervous, or uneasy
(
tense
, tense up
)
become tense, nervous, or uneasy
He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room
He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room
-
Increase the tension on
(
tense
)
increase the tension on
Alternately relax and tense your calf muscle
alternately relax and tense your calf muscle
Tense the rope manually before tensing the spring
tense the rope manually before tensing the spring
-
Become stretched, tense or taut
(
strain
, tense
)
become stretched, tense or taut
The bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed
the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed
The rope strained when the weight was attached
the rope strained when the weight was attached
