tense
tens
- n a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
- v become stretched or tense or taut
the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed - v increase the tension on
alternately relax and tense your calf muscle
tense the rope manually before tensing the spring - v become tense, nervous, or uneasy
He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room - v cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious
he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up - a in or of a state of physical or nervous tension
- a pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat')
- a taut or rigid; stretched tight
tense piano strings
- Even without the vibration, you would involuntarily tense and release just to hold the pose.
- Giuliani, in Florida concession speech, talked about his effort in the past tense, but said nothing explicit about dropping out -- or The Deal.
- The far western Chinese province of Xinjiang is a tense place at the best of times.