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tense

1

[ tens ]

adjective

tenser, tensest.
  1. stretched tight, as a cord, fiber, etc.; drawn taut; rigid.
  2. in a state of mental or nervous strain; high-strung; taut:

    a tense person.

  3. characterized by a strain upon the nerves or feelings:

    a tense moment.

  4. Phonetics. pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles; narrow. Compare lax 1( def 7 ).


verb (used with or without object)

tensed, tensing.
  1. to make or become tense.

tense

2

[ tens ]

noun

  1. a category of verbal inflection that serves chiefly to specify the time of the action or state expressed by the verb.
  2. a set of such categories or constructions in a particular language.
  3. the time, as past, present, or future, expressed by such a category.
  4. such categories or constructions, or their meanings collectively.

tense

1

/ ɛԲ /

adjective

  1. stretched or stressed tightly; taut or rigid
  2. under mental or emotional strain
  3. producing mental or emotional strain

    a tense day

  4. (of a speech sound) pronounced with considerable muscular effort and having relatively precise accuracy of articulation and considerable duration Compare lax

    in English the vowel (iː) in ``beam'' is tense

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. often foll by up to make or become tense
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tense

2

/ ɛԲ /

noun

  1. grammar a category of the verb or verbal inflections, such as present, past, and future, that expresses the temporal relations between what is reported in a sentence and the time of its utterance
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tense

  1. An inflectional ( see inflection ) form of verbs ; it expresses the time at which the action described by the verb takes place. The major tenses are past, present, and future. The verb in “I sing” is in the present tense; in “I sang,” past tense; in “I will sing,” future tense. Other tenses are the present perfect (“I have sung”), the past perfect (“I had sung”), and the future perfect (“I will have sung”).
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٱԲԱ, noun
  • ˈٱԲ, adverb
  • ˈٱԲ, adjective
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Other yvlog Forms

  • ٱԲl adverb
  • ٱԲn noun
  • ܲ·ٱԲiԲ adjective
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of tense1

First recorded in 1660–70; from Latin ŧԲܲ, past participle of tendere “to stretch”; tend 1

Origin of tense2

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English tens, from Middle French, from Latin tempus “t”
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of tense1

C17: from Latin tensus taut, from tendere to stretch

Origin of tense2

C14: from Old French tens time, from Latin tempus
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

With a tense final leg still in the balance, 'The Bullet' produced a brilliant 107 checkout to seal a memorable success.

From

At La Placita, he opened the church’s doors to shelter migrant youth during a time of tense discourse about immigration, and federal officials accused him of promoting illegal behavior.

From

While Trump has praised Sheinbaum’s efforts, bilateral relations between the two North American neighbors are enduring a tense time.

From

"It's been a tense and trying 48 hours," he said.

From

"There's just one hour of supply left. Reduce the oxygen we're supplying to our patients to the lowest levels needed to ensure all organs continue to function properly," he instructed his deputy, his face tense.

From

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