English dictionary



Hint: Asterisk (*) is a wildcard. Asterisk substitutes zero or more characters.

English adjective: tense

1. tense in or of a state of physical or nervous tension


Similarantsy, aroused, cliff-hanging, edgy, electric, fidgety, fretful, high-strung, highly strung, isotonic, itchy, jittery, jumpy, nail-biting, nervous, nervy, overstrung, pumped, pumped up, pumped-up, restive, strained, suspenseful, suspensive, taut, unrelaxed, uptight, wired, wound up


See alsoagitated, uneasy


Antonymsrelaxed

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


Similarconstricted


Domain categoryphonetics


Antonymslax

3. tense taut or rigid; stretched tight


SamplesTense piano strings.


Similaroverstrung, taut, tight


See alsotight


Antonymslax


English noun: tense

1. tense (communication) a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time


Broader (hypernym)grammatical category, syntactic category


Narrower (hyponym)aorist, continuous tense, future, future tense, imperfect, imperfect tense, past, past tense, perfect, perfect tense, perfective, perfective tense, present, present tense, progressive, progressive tense


English verb: tense

1. tense (contact) become stretched or tense or taut


SamplesThe bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;.
The rope strained when the weight was attached.


Synonymsstrain


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)tighten

2. tense (change) increase the tension on


SamplesAlternately relax and tense your calf muscle.
Tense the rope manually before tensing the spring.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)alter, change, modify

3. tense (body) become tense, nervous, or uneasy


SamplesHe tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room.


Synonymstense up


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s.
Somebody's (body part) ----s


Broader (hypernym)change state, turn


Antonymsrelax, decompress, unwind, loosen up, slow down, unbend

4. tense (body) cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious


SamplesHe got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up.


Synonymsstrain, tense up


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)affect


Narrower (hyponym)extend, stretch


Causetense, tense up


Antonymsmake relaxed, unlax, unstrain, relax, unwind, loosen up









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
Web design: Orcapia v/Per Bang. English edition: .
2024 onlineordbog.dk