Tense Verb Time Tensed Noun Form Muscles State

tense

I

\\ˈten(t)s\\ noun1. a distinction of form in a verb to express distinctions of time or duration of the action or state it denotes
2.
  a. a set of inflectional forms of a verb that express distinctions of time
  b. an inflectional form of a verb expressing a specific time distinction

II

adjective
(tens·er ; tens·est) 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 \\ē\\ and \\ü\\ in contrast with the vowels \\i\\ and \\u̇\\ are tense
• tense·ly adverb
• tense·ness noun

III

verb
(tensed ; tens·ing) transitive verb
: to make tense
intransitive verb
: to become tense
    tensed up and missed the putt

tense
 1.
  tense (adj.) "stretched tight," 1670, from L. tensus, pp. of tendere "to stretch" (see tenet). Sense of "in a state of nervous tension" is first recorded 1821. The verb meaning "to make tense" is from 1676; intrans. sense of "to become tense" (often tense up) is recorded from 1946.
 2.
  tense (n.) "form of a verb showing time of an action or state," early 14c., tens "time," also "tense of a verb" (late 14c.), from O.Fr. tens "time" (11c.), from L. tempus (see temporal).

tense
tense / tens / adjective1. (of a person 人) nervous or worried, and unable to relax
   神经紧张的；担心的；不能松弛的:
   He's a very tense person.
   他是个神经非常紧张的人。
   She sounded tense and angry.
   她的声音听起来又气又急。
2. (of a situation, an event, a period of time, etc. 形势、事件、时期等) in which people have strong feelings such as worry, anger, etc. that often cannot be expressed openly
   令人紧张的(或焦虑的、满腹愤懑的等):
   I spent a tense few weeks waiting for the results of the tests.
   等候测试结果的这几个星期里我寝食不安。
   The atmosphere in the meeting was getting more and more tense.
   会议的气氛越来越紧张。
3. (of a muscle or other part of the body 肌肉或身体部位) tight rather than relaxed
   绷紧的；不松弛的:
   A massage will relax those tense muscles.
   按摩会使紧张的肌肉松弛。
4. (of wire, etc. 金属丝等) stretched tightly
   拉紧的；绷紧的
   SYN 

taut

5. (phonetics 语音) (of a speech sound 语音) produced with the muscles of the speech organs stretched tight
   OPP 

lax

   紧的；紧音性的
• tense·ly adv.
• tense·ness noun [U] noun   (grammar 语法) any of the forms of a verb that may be used to show the time of the action or state expressed by the verb
   (动词的)时,时态:
   the past / present / future tense
   过去/现在/将来时态 verb    ~ (sth) (up) if you tense your muscles, or you or your muscles tense, they become tight and stiff, especially because you are not relaxed
   (使肌肉)拉紧,绷紧
  ▪ [V]
   His muscles tensed as he got ready to run.
   他准备起跑时肌肉绷紧了。
   She tensed, hearing the strange noise again.
   再次听到那个奇怪的声音,她紧张起来。
  ▪ [VN]
   She tensed her muscles in anticipation of the blow.
   眼看要捱打,她绷紧了肌肉。
   He tensed himself, listening to see if anyone had followed him.
   他竖起耳朵谛听是否有人跟踪。
 IDIOMS 
▪ be / get tensed 'up
   to become or feel nervous or worried so that you cannot relax
   变得神经紧张；变得焦虑不安

tense adj.

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tense verb

tense
I. \ˈten(t)s\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English tens, tense time, tense, from Middle French tens, from Latin tempor-, tempus — more at
1. : a distinction of form in a verb to express past, present, or future time or duration of the action or state it denotes
2.
 a. : a set of inflectional forms of a verb that express distinctions of time — see ,
 b. : a particular inflectional form of a verb expressing a specific time distinction
  < used the wrong tense of the verb >
3. : the part of the meaning of a verb form that consists of the expression of a time distinction
4. : a verb phrase that includes a tense auxiliary
II. transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
: to provide with a tense
 < a tensed statement >
III. adjective
(-er/-est)
Etymology: Latin tensus, from past participle of tendere to stretch — more at
1. : stretched tight : made taut :
 < the skeletal musculature involuntarily becomes tense — H.G.Armstrong >
2.
 a. : feeling or showing nervous tension : under mental or emotional strain :
  < tense, taciturn, sensitive, given to worry — A.L.Kroeber >
 b. : causing strain : inducing tension
  < the riffles get rougher and navigating is a bit tense — Buick Magazine >
  < no game is tenser than solemn tournament billiards: cold-blooded concentration and steady nerves are demanded — Time >
 c. : charged with tension : marked by strain or suspense
  < the air was tense with complaint and constraint — L.C.Douglas >
  < the first eleven pages … have a tense and gripping power — A.H.MacCormick >
3. of a speech sound : produced with the muscles involved in a relatively tense state
 < the vowels \ē\ and \ü\ in contrast with the vowels \i\ and \u̇\ are tense >
— compare
Synonyms: see ,
IV. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
transitive verb
: to make tense
 < held my mouth open to tense my eardrums — Christopher Morley >
intransitive verb
: to become tense
 < tensed like a coiled rattler — Jack McLarn >
— often used with up

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