tense tense /ˈtɛns/

adjective

1. Taut or rigid; stretched tight  ( tense )
   taut or rigid; stretched tight
    Tense piano strings
   tense piano strings
   
2. (phonetics) pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in 'beat')  ( tense )
   (phonetics) pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in 'beat')
   
3. In or of a state of physical or nervous tension  ( tense )
   in or of a state of physical or nervous tension
   

noun

1. () A grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time  ( tense )
   a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
   

verb

1. Cause to be tense and uneasy, nervous or anxious  ( tense , tense up , strain )
   cause to be tense and uneasy, nervous or anxious
    He got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up
   he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up
   
2. Become tense, nervous, or uneasy  ( tense , tense up )
   become tense, nervous, or uneasy
    He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room
   He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room
   
3. Increase the tension on  ( tense )
   increase the tension on
    Alternately relax and tense your calf muscle
   alternately relax and tense your calf muscle
    Tense the rope manually before tensing the spring
   tense the rope manually before tensing the spring
   
4. Become stretched, tense or taut  ( strain , tense )
   become stretched, tense or taut
    The bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed
   the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed
    The rope strained when the weight was attached
   the rope strained when the weight was attached