tense adj
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tense — adj 1 *tight, taut Analogous words: strained (see corresponding noun at STRAIN): nervous, unquiet, uneasy, jittery (see IMPATIENT) Antonyms: slack 2 *stiff, rigid, inflexible, stark, wooden Analogous words: tough, tenacious, stout (see STRONG):… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
tense — {{11}}tense (adj.) stretched tight, 1660s, from L. tensus, pp. of tendere to stretch (see TENET (Cf. tenet)). Sense of in a state of nervous tension is first recorded 1821. {{12}}tense (n.) form of a verb showing time of an action or state, early … Etymology dictionary
tense — 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… … English World dictionary
tense — adj 1. taut, tight, drawn tight; rigid, stiff, inelastic, uplastic, inflexible, unbending, unyielding. 2. nervous, high strung, strained, under a strain, Sl. uptight, keyed up, wound up, choked up; worked up, wrought up, agitated, flustered,… … A Note on the Style of the synonym finder
tense — [[t]te̱ns[/t]] tenses, tensing, tensed, tenser, tensest 1) ADJ GRADED A tense situation or period of time is one that makes people anxious, because they do not know what is going to happen next. This gesture of goodwill did little to improve the… … English dictionary
tense — 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 … Universalium
tense — 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 … Useful english dictionary
tense — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ future, past, present ▪ verb VERB + TENSE ▪ use ▪ form … Collocations dictionary
tense — 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… … Dictionary of contemporary English
tense — [tens] adj I 1) making you feel nervous and not relaxed a tense situation[/ex] 2) feeling nervous and not relaxed He was too tense to sleep.[/ex] 3) stretched tight tense muscles[/ex] II noun [C/U] linguistics tense [tens] a form of a verb that… … Dictionary for writing and speaking English
