[present tense] n (14c): the tense of a verb that expresses action or state in the present time and is used of what occurs or is true at the time of speaking and of what is habitual or characteristic or is always or necessarily true, that is sometimes used to refer to action in the past, and that is sometimes used for future events
PRESENT TENSE
Meaning of PRESENT TENSE in English
Merriam-Webster English vocab. Английский словарь Merriam Webster. 2012