tense

One entry found for tense.

Main Entry: ²tense
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): tens·er; tens·est
Etymology: Latin tensus, from past participle of tendere to stretch -- more at THIN
1 : stretched tight : made taut : RIGID <tense muscles>
2 a : feeling or showing nervous tension <a tense smile> b : marked by strain or suspense <a tense thriller>
3 : produced with the muscles involved in a relatively tense state <the vowels \E\ and \ü\ in contrast with the vowels \i\ and \u\ are tense>
- tense·ly adverb
- tense·ness noun