Definitions for tense
tɛnstense

Princeton's WordNet(2.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. tenseadjective

   a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time

2. tenseadjective

   in or of a state of physical or nervous tension

3. tenseadjective

   pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat')

4. tenseverb

   taut or rigid; stretched tight

   "tense piano strings"

5. strain, tenseverb

   become stretched or tense or taut

   "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached"

6. tenseverb

   increase the tension on

   "alternately relax and tense your calf muscle"; "tense the rope manually before tensing the spring"

7. tense, tense upverb

   become tense, nervous, or uneasy

   "He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room"

8. tense, strain, tense upverb

   cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious

   "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up"

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Tensenoun

   one of the forms which a verb takes by inflection or by adding auxiliary words, so as to indicate the time of the action or event signified; the modification which verbs undergo for the indication of time

2. Tenseadjective

   stretched tightly; strained to stiffness; rigid; not lax; as, a tense fiber

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(1.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Tense

   tens, n. time in grammar, the form of a verb to indicate the time of the action. [O. Fr. tens (Fr. temps)—L. tempus, time.]

2. Tense

   tens, adj. strained to stiffness: rigid.—adv. Tense′ly.—ns. Tense′ness, state of being tense; Tensibil′ity, Tensil′ity, quality of being tensile.—adjs. Ten′sible, Ten′sile, capable of being stretched.—ns. Ten′sion, act of stretching: state of being stretched or strained: strain: effort: strain in the direction of the length, or the degree of it: mental strain, excited feeling: a strained state of any kind; Ten′sion-rod, a rod in a structure holding together different parts; Ten′sity, tenseness: state of being tense.—adj. Ten′sive, giving the sensation of tenseness or stiffness.—n. Ten′sor, a muscle that tightens a part. [L. tensus, pa.p. of tendĕre, to stretch.]

The New Hacker's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. tense

   Of programs, very clever and efficient. A tense piece of code often got that way because it was highly tuned, but sometimes it was just based on a great idea. A comment in a clever routine by Mike Kazar, once a grad-student hacker at CMU: “This routine is so tense it will bring tears to your eyes.” A tense programmer is one who produces tense code.

Matched Categories

1. • Change
   • Phonetics

Anagrams for tense »

1. Enets

2. Sente

How to pronounce tense?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say tense in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of tense in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of tense in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of tense in a Sentence

1. The French:

   It was a.. . very tense game against a formidable opponent but we did not give up and we wore them down, i would have liked us to play more in the first half so the second half would have been easier but I guess this will be freeing us for the remainder of the tournament.

2. Latvian Porzingis:

   I always try to stay confident in my ability. I've never really doubted myself on the court, but when things are not clicking you start to tense up a little bit, it took me time to figure some things out. I feel really comfortable out there now, it feels in the rhythm of the game. I know where my jump shots are going to come from and when I can be aggressive. It feels more simple and natural.

3. Stephen Brennock:

   Oil prices are touching fresh multi-year highs as robust demand prospects coupled with a tense geopolitical backdrop make for a potent bullish cocktail.

4. Jacqueline Pereira:

   Since public transport has gotten bad I try not to go out and I walk to work, people are tense.

5. Gregory Philipps:

   The situation in Paris is very tense, people, they don't want to go out.

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