Associations to the word «Tense»

Wiktionary

TENSE, noun. (grammar) Any of the forms of a verb which distinguish when an action or state of being occurs or exists.
TENSE, verb. (grammar) (transitive) To apply a tense to.
TENSE, adjective. Showing signs of stress or strain; not relaxed.
TENSE, adjective. Pulled taut, without any slack.
TENSE, verb. To make or become tense.
TENSE UP, verb. (intransitive) to become tense

Dictionary definition

TENSE, noun. A grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time.
TENSE, verb. Become stretched or tense or taut; "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached".
TENSE, verb. Increase the tension on; "alternately relax and tense your calf muscle"; "tense the rope manually before tensing the spring".
TENSE, verb. Become tense, nervous, or uneasy; "He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room".
TENSE, verb. Cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious; "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up".
TENSE, adjective. In or of a state of physical or nervous tension.
TENSE, adjective. Pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat').
TENSE, adjective. Taut or rigid; stretched tight; "tense piano strings".

Wise words

Every once in a while, you let a word or phrase out and you want to catch it and bring it back. You can't do that. It's gone, gone forever.
Dan Quayle