tense

tense ¹  (tns)

adj. tens·er, tens·est

1. Tightly stretched; taut. See Synonyms at stiff, tight.

2. In a state of mental or nervous tension.

3. Characterized by nervous tension or suspense.

4. Linguistics Enunciated with taut muscles, as the sound () in keen.

tr. & intr.v. tensed, tens·ing, tens·es

To make or become tense.

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[Latin tnsus, past participle of tendere, to stretch; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]

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tensely adv.

tenseness n.

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tense ²  (tns)

n.

1. Any one of the inflected forms in the conjugation of a verb that indicates the time, such as past, present, or future, as well as the continuance or completion of the action or state.

2. A set of tense forms indicating a particular time: the future tense.

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[Middle English tens, from Old French, time, from Latin tempus.]

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tense¹

adj

1. stretched or stressed tightly; taut or rigid

2. under mental or emotional strain

3. producing mental or emotional strain a tense day

4. (Linguistics / Phonetics & Phonology) (of a speech sound) pronounced with considerable muscular effort and having relatively precise accuracy of articulation and considerable duration in English the vowel (iː) in ``beam'' is tense Compare lax [4]

vb

(often foll by up) to make or become tense

[from Latin tensus taut, from tendere to stretch]

tensely  adv

tenseness  n

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tense²

n

(Linguistics / Grammar) Grammar a category of the verb or verbal inflections, such as present, past, and future, that expresses the temporal relations between what is reported in a sentence and the time of its utterance

[from Old French tens time, from Latin tempus]

tenseless  adj

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	tense - a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time grammatical category, syntactic category - (grammar) a category of words having the same grammatical properties present tense, present - a verb tense that expresses actions or states at the time of speaking aorist - a verb tense in some languages (classical Greek and Sanskrit) expressing action (especially past action) without indicating its completion or continuation past tense, past - a verb tense that expresses actions or states in the past future tense, future - a verb tense that expresses actions or states in the future continuous tense, imperfect, imperfect tense, progressive, progressive tense - a tense of verbs used in describing action that is on-going perfect, perfect tense, perfective, perfective tense - a tense of verbs used in describing action that has been completed (sometimes regarded as perfective aspect)
Verb	1.	tense - become stretched or tense or taut; "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached" strain tighten - become tight or tighter; "The rope tightened"
	2.	tense - increase the tension on; "alternately relax and tense your calf muscle"; "tense the rope manually before tensing the spring" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
	3.	tense - become tense, nervous, or uneasy; "He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room" tense up change state, turn - undergo a transformation or a change of position or action; "We turned from Socialism to Capitalism"; "The people turned against the President when he stole the election" relax, decompress, unwind, loosen up, slow down, unbend - become less tense, rest, or take one's ease; "He relaxed in the hot tub"; "Let's all relax after a hard day's work"
	4.	tense - cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious; "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up" tense up, strain affect - act physically on; have an effect upon; "the medicine affects my heart rate" stretch, extend - extend one's limbs or muscles, or the entire body; "Stretch your legs!"; "Extend your right arm above your head" make relaxed, unlax, unstrain, unwind, relax, loosen up - cause to feel relaxed; "A hot bath always relaxes me"
Adj.	1.	tense - in or of a state of physical or nervous tension agitated - troubled emotionally and usually deeply; "agitated parents" uneasy - lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance; "farmers were uneasy until rain finally came"; "uneasy about his health"; "gave an uneasy laugh"; "uneasy lies the head that wears the crown"; "an uneasy coalition government"; "an uneasy calm"; "an uneasy silence fell on the group" relaxed - without strain or anxiety; "gave the impression of being quite relaxed"; "a relaxed and informal discussion"
	2.	tense - pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat') phonetics - the branch of acoustics concerned with speech processes including its production and perception and acoustic analysis lax - pronounced with muscles of the tongue and jaw relatively relaxed (e.g., the vowel sound in `bet')
	3.	tense - taut or rigid; stretched tight; "tense piano strings" tight - closely constrained or constricted or constricting; "tight skirts"; "he hated tight starched collars"; "fingers closed in a tight fist"; "a tight feeling in his chest" lax - lacking in strength or firmness or resilience; "a lax rope"; "a limp handshake"

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tense

adjective

1. strained, uneasy, stressful, fraught, charged, difficult, worrying, exciting, uncomfortable, knife-edge, nail-biting, nerve-racking the tense atmosphere of the talks

2. nervous, wound up (informal), edgy, strained, wired (slang), anxious, under pressure, restless, apprehensive, jittery (informal), uptight (informal), on edge, jumpy, twitchy (informal), overwrought, strung up (informal), on tenterhooks, fidgety, keyed up, antsy (informal), wrought up He had been very tense, but he finally relaxed.
nervous collected, calm, serene, easy-going, unconcerned, cool-headed, unruffled, self-possessed, unworried

3. rigid, strained, taut, stretched, tight She lay, eyes shut, body tense.
rigid relaxed, loose, limp, flexible, flaccid, pliant

verb

tighten, strain, brace, tauten, stretch, flex, stiffen His stomach muscles tensed.
tighten relax, loosen, slacken

Translations

tense¹ [tens] N (Ling) → tiempo m
in the present tense → en presente

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tense² [tens]

A. ADJ (tenser (compar) (tensest (superl)))

1. (= nervous) [person, expression] → tenso
her voice was tense → se le notaba la tensión en la voz
to feel tense → sentirse tenso
to get or grow tense → ponerse tenso

2. (= stiff) [body, muscles, neck] → tenso, en tensión
my shoulders are tense → tengo los hombros tensos or en tensión

3. (= strained) [atmosphere, silence] → tenso; [relations] → tenso, tirante; [period, moment] → de tensión
the tense situation in the Persian Gulf → la situación de tensión en el Golfo Pérsico

4. (= taut) [rope, wire] → tenso, tirante

B. VI (also tense up) [person] → ponerse tenso; [muscle, body] → ponerse tenso, ponerse en tensión

C. VT (also tense up) → tensar, poner tenso
she tensed her muscles → tensó or puso tensos los músculos

tense up

A. VI + ADV
see tense ² B

B. VT + ADV
see tense ² C

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tense [ˈtɛns]

adj

[atmosphere, situation, time, period, silence] → tendu(e)

[person] → tendu(e)

[muscles, body] → tendu(e), contracté(e)

n (LINGUISTICS) [verb] → temps m
the present tense → le présent
the future tense → le futur
the past tense → le passé

vt [+ muscles] → tendre, contracter

vi (also tense up) [muscles] → se contracter, se tendre; [person] → se crisper

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tense¹

n (Gram) → Zeit f, → Tempus nt; present tense → Gegenwart f; past tense → Vergangenheit f; future tense → Zukunft f

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tense²

adj (+er) rope → gespannt, straff; muscles → (an)gespannt; neck → verspannt; person, expression, bearing (through stress, worry etc) → angespannt; (through nervousness, fear etc) → verkrampft; voice → nervös; silence, atmosphere → gespannt; situation → (an)gespannt; time → gespannt, spannungsgeladen; negotiations → spannungsgeladen; relations → angespannt; (= thrilling) scene → spannungsgeladen; tense headache → Spannungskopfschmerz m; to grow or become or get tense (person) → nervös werden; to make somebody tense → jdn in Anspannung versetzen; I’ve been feeling rather tense all day → ich bin schon den ganzen Tag so nervös; in a voice tense with emotion → mit erregter Stimme; things are getting rather tense → die Lage wird gespannter

vt → anspannen; to tense oneself to do something → sich darauf konzentrieren, etw zu tun

vi → sich (an)spannen, sich straffen

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tense¹ [tɛns] n (Gram) → tempo
in the present tense → al presente

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tense¹ [tɛns] n (Gram) → tempo
in the present tense → al presente

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tense² [tɛns]

1. adj (-r (comp) (-st (superl))) → teso/a
tense with fear → teso/a dalla paura

2. vt (tighten, muscles) → tendere

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tense² [tɛns]

1. adj (-r (comp) (-st (superl))) → teso/a
tense with fear → teso/a dalla paura

2. vt (tighten, muscles) → tendere

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tense¹

n tense [tens]

a form of a verb that shows the time of its action in relation to the time of speaking a verb in the past/future/present tense. tyd صيغَة تَدُل على زَمان حُدوث الفِعْل глаголно време čas tid; -tid die Zeitform (γραμματική) χρόνος tiempo ajavorm زمان aikamuoto temps מָתוּחַ क्रिया का काल glagolsko vrijeme igeidő kala tíð tempo 時制 시제 laikas (gramatikā) laiks kala tijd tid, tempus czas tempo timp время čas (slovesný) glagolski čas vreme tempus, tidsform กาล (เป็นรูปของกริยาแสดงเวลา) fiil zamanı, kip (動詞的)時態 час فعل کا زمانہ thời của động từ （动词的）时态

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tense²

adj tense [tens]

1 strained; nervous The crowd was tense with excitement; a tense situation. gespanne مُتَوَتِّر، عَصَبي напрегнат napjatý anspændt; spændt; nervøs gespannt που βρίσκεται σε υπερένταση, τεταμένος tenso pinev نگران؛ عصبی hermostunut crispé, tendu מָתוּחַ घबराया हुआ napet feszült tegang spenntur teso, ansioso 緊張した 긴장된 įtemptas, įsitempęs saspīlēts; sasprindzināts; nervozs cemas gespannen (an)spent, nervøs napięty tenso tensionat, încordat напряжённый napätý napet napet spänd ตึงเครียด gergin, sinirli 緊張的 напружений کشيدہ căng thẳng 紧张的

2 tight; tightly stretched. gespan مَشْدود обтегнат napnutý anspændt gespannt τεντωμένος tirante, tenso pingul کشیده kireä tendu מָתוּחַ तनावपूर्ण, कसा हुआ krut, nategnut feszes kencang strekktur teso 強く張った 팽팽한 įtemptas savilkts; nospriegots tegang strak forstrukket, stram naprężony esticado încordat натянутый napnutý napet napet spänd, sträckt, stram ตึง gergin, gerili 拉緊的 натягнутий; тугий تنا ہوا căng 拉紧的

v

to make or become tense He tensed his muscles. span, strek يَشُد، يُوَتِّر напрягам (се) napnout spænde (an-)spannen σφίγγω, τεντώνω tensar pingutama منقبض کردن؛ کشیده کردن jännittää (se) tendre לִמתוֹחַ तनना, तानना, कसना, कसा जाना istegnuti, nategnuti megfeszít mengencangkan spenna tendere, tendersi 緊張させる (근육 등을) 긴장시키다 į(si)tempti sasprindzināt; sasprindzināties menegangkan spannen stramme(s), spenne(s) napinać (się) retesar(-se) a (se) încorda напрягать(ся) napnúť napeti (se) napeti spänna ทำให้ตึง kas(ıl)mak, ger(il)mek 拉緊 натягувати(ся) تننا، کشيدہ کرنا làm căng ra 拉紧

adv tensely

gespan بِشِدَّه، بِتَوَتُّر стегнато napjatě anspændt gespannt τεταμένα de manera tensa pinguldatult بطور عصبی kireästi d'une manière tendue בִּדרִיכוּת तनावपूर्ण से, चिंताजनक napeto feszesen; feszülten dengan tegang með spennu con tensione 緊張して 긴장하여 įtemptai saspringti dgn tegang gespannen (an)spent, stramt w napięciu tensamente cu încordare напряжённо napäto napeto napeto spänt อย่างเคร่งเครียด gergin olarak 緊張地 напружено کشا کش کے ساتھ căng thẳng 紧张地

n tenseness

gespannenheid تَوَتُّر، إنْشِداد стегнатост napjatost, napětí anspændthed; nervøsitet die Spannung ένταση tensión pingulolek تنش jännittyneisyys tension מְתִיחוּת तनावपूर्ण, चिंताजनक napetost feszültség; merevség kekencangan spenna tensione 緊張 긴장함 įtampa spriedze; saspīlējums ketegangan gespannenheid spenning, anspenthet napięcie, naprężenie tensão tensiune напряжённость napätosť, napätie napetost napetost spändhet ความเครียด gerginlik 緊張 напруженість کشا کش sự căng thẳng 紧张

n tension [-ʃən]

1 the state of being stretched, or the degree to which something is stretched the tension of the rope. styfheid تَوَتُّر разтягане (na)pnutí spændthed die Spannung ένταση tensión pingulolek کشش kireys tension מֶתַח तनाव nategnutost feszülés ketegangan strekking, spenna tensione 緊張 장력 įtampa, įtempimas nostiepšana; nospriegojums tegangan spanning stramming; spenthet; spenn(kraft) naprężenie tensão tensiune натяжение napätie, napnutie napetost nategnutost spänning, sträckning ความตึง gerginlik, gerilim 拉緊 натяг, натягування پھيلاؤ sự căng 拉紧

2 mental strain; anxiety She is suffering from nervous tension; the tensions of modern life. spanning توتُّر عَصَبي напрежение napětí, tlak anspændthed; angst die Spannung υπερένταση, άγχος, ανησυχία tensión (nerviosa) pinge تنش؛ فشار روحی jännittyneisyys tension (nerveuse) מֶתַח दबाव napetost, tjeskoba feszültség ketegangan saraf taugaspenna tensione 不安 긴장, 불안 įtampa, įtempimas spriedze; stress ketegangan; perasaan cemas overspanning anspenthet, spent forhold napięcie tensão (stare de) tensiune напряжение napätie napetost napetost anspänning ความเครียด tansiyon, gerginlik, endişe (duygusu) 緊張 напруженість بے چيني، ذہني تناؤ tình trạng căng thẳng 紧张

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tense → صيغة الفعل, متوتر čas, napjatý anspændt, tid angespannt, Tempus τεντωμένος, χρόνος ρήματος tenso, tiempo verbal aikamuoto, kireä temps, tendu napet, vrijeme tempo, teso 時制, 緊張した 긴장한, 시제 gespannen, tijdsvorm anspent, verbtid czas, napięty tempo verbal, tenso время, натянутый spänd, tempus ตึง, ตึงเครียด gergin, zaman căng thẳng, thời của động từ 时态, 紧张的