make tight or tense
1tense — tense1 [tens] adj. tenser, tensest [L tensus, pp. of tendere, to stretch < IE * tend < base * ten , to stretch > THIN] 1. stretched tight; strained; taut 2. feeling, showing, or causing mental strain; anxious 3. Phonet. articulated with… …
2tense — Ⅰ. tense [1] ► ADJECTIVE 1) stretched tight or rigid. 2) feeling, causing, or showing anxiety and nervousness. ► VERB ▪ make or become tense. DERIVATIVES tensely adverb tenseness noun …
3tense — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) adj. taut, rigid; intent; excited; high strung, nervous, strained. See hardness. n. time, verb form, inflection. See grammar. II (Roget s IV) modif. 1. [Nervous] Syn. agitated, anxious, high strung, on… …
4tense — tense1 tensely, adv. tenseness, n. /tens/, adj., tenser, tensest, v., tensed, tensing. adj. 1. stretched tight, as a cord, fiber, etc.; drawn taut; rigid. 2. in a state of mental or nervous strain; high strung; taut: a tense person …
5tense — 1. adj. & v. adj. 1 stretched tight, strained (tense cord; tense muscle; tense nerves; tense emotion). 2 causing tenseness (a tense moment). 3 Phonet. pronounced with the vocal muscles tense. v.tr. & intr. make or become tense. Phrases and idioms …
6tense — I [[t]tɛns[/t]] adj. tens•er, tens•est, 1) stretched tight, as a cord, fiber, etc.; drawn taut; rigid 2) in a state of mental or nervous strain; high strung: a tense person[/ex] 3) characterized by a strain upon the nerves or feelings: a tense… …
7tense — tense1 adjective 1》 (especially of a muscle) stretched tight or rigid. 2》 (of a person) unable to relax. ↘causing or showing anxiety and nervousness. 3》 Phonetics (of a speech sound, especially a vowel) pronounced with the vocal muscles… …
8tense — Tight, rigid, or strained; characterized by anxiety and psychological strain. [L. tensus, pp. of tendo, to stretch] * * * tense ten(t)s adj, tens·er; tens·est 1) stretched tight: made taut or rigid <the skeletal musculature involuntarily… …
9tense — tense1 [tens] adj [Date: 1600 1700; : Latin; Origin: stretched , from the past participle of tendere; TEND] 1.) a situation in which you feel very anxious and worried because of something bad that might happen →↑tension tense… …
10tense — 1 adjective 1 feeling very nervous and worried because of something bad that might happen: The robbers were tense as they waited the long minutes for the van to arrive. | tense moment/atmosphere etc: Marion spoke, eager to break the tense silence …
