Crossword Dictionary
tense
tense - a
in or of a state of physical or nervous tension
pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat')
taut or rigid; stretched tight; "tense piano strings"
When something's stretched tight, it's tense. A rope can be tense. So can a muscle. When a person's tense, they're anxious.
When a situation is tense, you might say you could "cut the tension with a knife." When a muscle tenses up, it contracts suddenly–-a person can be said to tense up also. The opposite of tense is "relaxed." If you tense up during exams, it's probably best to learn some relaxation techniques. The brain works best when it's relaxed.
in a sentence
The situation grew increasingly tense.
She was tense, almost afraid to open the letter.
She realized how tense she was and consciously relaxed.