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"

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Tenseadjective

   Stretched; stiff; not lax.

   Etymology: tensus, Lat.

   For the free passage of the sound into the ear, it is requisite that the tympanum be tense, and hard stretched, otherwise the laxness of the membrane will certainly dead and damp the sound. William Holder.

2. Tensenoun

   In grammar. Tense, in strict speaking, is only a variation of the verb to signify time. Clarke.

   Etymology: temps, Fr. tempus, Lat.

   As foresight, when it is natural, answers to memory, so when methodical it answers to reminiscence, and may be called forecast; all of them expressed in the tenses given to verbs. Memory faith, I did see; reminiscence, I had seen; foresight, I shall see; forecast, I shall have seen. Nehemiah Grew.

   Ladies, without knowing what tenses and participles are, speak as properly and as correctly as gentlemen. John Locke.

   He should have the Latin words given him in their first case and tense, and should never be left to seek them himself from a dictionary. Isaac Watts.

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. teens

2. steen

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. Jose Eustaquio da Silva:

   Everyone is tense, people who live near other dams are tense as well.

2. Shah Asad Rizvi:

   Release stress, be not tense, in movements of dance find healing for yourself

3. Novak Djokovic:

   I don't mind cruising along, to be honest, i have plenty of experience, I think, dealing with situations where you're facing break points or where it's tense.

4. Lynn Zakeri:

   This is a hard line for both of you, this can become tense and full of resentment, or it can be a discussion that gets you both somewhere. ‘So from what you are telling me, it is important for us to move. Tell me again the reasons why, so I fully understand them.’ Then repeat back the reasons, without judgment or tone.

5. Brian Sicknick:

   They were very charming, they knew what they were doing, they knew how to talk to us, but we kind of held back, it was just, it was tense, and we made believe everything was fine and we were very nice to them, for the most part.

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