Definitions for tense
tɛnstense

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

1. tense(adj)

   a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time

2. tense(adj)

   in or of a state of physical or nervous tension

3. tense(adj)

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

4. tense(verb)

   taut or rigid; stretched tight

   "tense piano strings"

5. strain, tense(verb)

   become stretched or tense or taut

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

6. tense(verb)

   increase the tension on

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

7. tense, tense up(verb)

   become tense, nervous, or uneasy

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

8. tense, strain, tense up(verb)

   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. Tense(noun)

   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. Tense(adj)

   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.

Anagrams for tense »

1. Enets

2. Sente

How to pronounce tense?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

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. Michael Cassidy:

   Things are very tense there right now.

2. Ivor Prickett:

   Their sense of uncertainty was really palpable, (They) were lucky in the sense that they managed to reach that side of country and were allowed to enter northern Iraq, which the Kurds regard as their closest thing to a homeland. That said, they were incredibly tense and uncertain, having never been to Iraq before.

3. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi:

   This move goes beyond the defensive needs of the relevant countries. If it is deployed it will directly impact China's and Russia's respective strategic security, not only does it threaten the resolution of the peninsula nuclear issue, it quite possibly could pour oil on the fire of an already tense situation, and even destroy strategic equilibrium on the peninsula.

4. Jason Abrams:

   You go in, right, you’re tight, and you’re tense. You start going through the motions, and the poses, and stretching out, then when you’re done, you’re like, ‘I feel excellent.’.

5. Adam Grossman:

   If I see you (a company executive) tense up with a question or glance at your chief financial officer, I'm picking that up, it's not a violation (of RegFD) -- but it's an advantage.

Images & Illustrations of tense

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