adjective / verb
tense
TENS/tens/
Held tight under strain.
The tense rope stretches straight between the two sturdy posts.
Etymology
From tendere, “to stretch,” tense first described something stretched tight. That physical image was extended to nervous strain, describing a person as though drawn taut.
In context
what happens when you're nervous right your heart rate starts to go you're you know you sort of get a little tense you get a little sweaty
More examples
- Try not to tense your muscles during the stretch.
- His jaw tenses whenever he lifts a heavy weight.
- The room feels tense while everyone waits for the results.
Forms
tense · tenses · tensed · tensing · tenser · tensest
tensely adverb — In a physically or emotionally strained way.