tense

Sense 1 noun

a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time

Sense 2 verb

become stretched or tense or taut

the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;

Sense 3 adjective

in or of a state of physical or nervous tension

Sense 4 verb

increase the tension on

alternately relax and tense your calf muscle

Sense 5 adjective

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

Sense 6 verb

become tense, nervous, or uneasy

He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room

Sense 7 adjective

taut or rigid; stretched tight

tense piano strings

Sense 8 verb

cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious

he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up