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:
tense up become tense.
Derivatives:
tensely adv. tenseness n. tensity n.
Etymology: L tensus past part. of tendere stretch 2. n. Gram.
1. a form taken by a verb to indicate the time (also the continuance or completeness) of the action etc. (present tense; imperfect tense).
2 a set of such forms for the various persons and numbers.
Derivatives:
tenseless adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF tens f. L tempus time