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1. Dictionary

   tense

   /tɛns/

   adjective

   • 1. (especially of a muscle) stretched tight or rigid: "she tried to relax her tense muscles" Similar tautstretched tighttightrigidstretchedstrainedstiffOpposite slackloose
   • ▪ (of a speech sound, especially a vowel) pronounced with the vocal muscles stretched tight.
   • 2. unable to relax because of nervousness, anxiety, or stimulation: "he was tense with excitement"
   • ▪ causing or characterized by anxiety and nervousness: "they waited in tense silence" Similar anxiousnervouson edgeedgystrainedstressedunder a strainunder pressureagitatedill at easeunrelaxedin a state of nervesin a state of agitationfretfuluneasyrestlessworked upkeyed upoverwroughthighly strungwrought upstrung outjumpyon tenterhookson pins and needleswith one's stomach in knotsfidgetyworriedapprehensiveupsetdisturbedpanickynervyinformal:with butterflies in one's stomacha bundle of nervesjitterytwitchyin a stateuptightwiredhet upstressed outwhite-knuckledstrung upstressywindyspookysquirrellytoeydated:overstrungnerve-rackingstressfulanxiousworryingconcerningfraughtchargedstrainednail-bitingworrisomedifficultuneasyuncomfortableexcitingcliffhangingknife-edgedramaticvolatileexplosiveinformal:hairyanxious-makingwhite-knuckleOpposite calmcoolrelaxedrelaxing

   verb

   • 1. become tense, typically through anxiety or nervousness: "her body tensed up"
   • ▪ make (a muscle or one's body) tight or rigid: "carefully stretch and then tense your muscles"

   Word Origin late 17th century: from Latin tensus ‘stretched’, from the verb tendere.

   Derivatives

   • 1. tensely adverb
   • 2. tenseness noun

   Scrabble Points: 5

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › tenseTense Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › tense

   • Cached

   The meaning of TENSE is stretched tight : made taut : rigid. How to use tense in a sentence.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishTENSE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   TENSE definition: 1. any of the forms of a verb which show the time at which an action happened: 2. nervous and…. Learn more.

4. www.englishclub.com › grammar › tense-whatWhat is Tense? | Learn English

   www.englishclub.com › grammar › tense-what

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   Tense is a verb-based method used to indicate the time, and sometimes the continuation or completeness, of an action or state in relation to the time of speaking.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › tenseTENSE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › tense

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   noun. a category of verbal inflection that serves chiefly to specify the time of the action or state expressed by the verb. a set of such categories or constructions in a particular language. the time, as past, present, or future, expressed by such a category.

6. writingexplained.org › grammar-dictionary › english-tensesWhat are Tenses in English? Definition, Examples of English ...

   writingexplained.org › grammar-dictionary › english-tenses

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   Define tense: In grammar, the definition of tense is a verb’s quality that shows time in which an act, state, or condition occurs or occurred. In summary , there are three tense groups in English which include past, present, and future.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › tenseTense - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › tense

   (of a situation) characterized by or causing suspense. taut. subjected to great tension; stretched tight. antsy, fidgety, fretful, itchy, twitchy.

8. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishTENSE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   [VERB] He tensed as the big guy gripped his shoulder. [VERB] Jane tensed her muscles to stop them from shaking. [VERB noun] Tense up means the same as tense. When we are under stress our bodies tend to tense up. [VERB PARTICLE] I tried not to tense up, or become obviously wary.