tent 1
— tentless , adj. — tentlike , adj.
/tent/ , n.
1. a portable shelter of skins, canvas, plastic, or the like, supported by one or more poles or a frame and often secured by ropes fastened to pegs in the ground.
2. something that resembles a tent.
3. tent dress.
v.t.
4. to lodge in tents.
5. to cover with or as if with a tent: In winter the tennis courts are tented inplastic.
v.i.
6. to live in a tent; encamp.
[ 1250-1300; ME tente tenta, fem. of tentus ptp. of tendere to extend, stretch; cf. tentorium tent ]
tent 2
/tent/ , v.t. Chiefly Scot.
to give or pay attention to; heed.
[ 1250-1300; ME, deriv. of tent (n.) attention, aph. var. of attent atente attention, intention attenta, fem. of attentus, ptp. of attendere to ATTEND ]
tent 3
/tent/ , Surg.
n.
1. a probe.
2. a roll or pledget, usually of soft absorbent material, as lint or gauze, for dilating an orifice, keeping a wound open, etc.
v.t.
3. to keep (a wound) open with a tent.
[ 1325-75; ME tente a probe tenter tentare, var. of temptare to probe, test. See TEMPT ]