tense

• Describe un estado de tensión, nerviosismo o que provoca ansiedad o inquietud.

Describes a state of being stretched tight, nervous, or causing anxiety.

1. Nervous or anxiousA2formal

   In a state of mental or emotional strain; unable to relax.

   tenso

   • She felt tense before the job interview.
   • The atmosphere in the room was very tense.
   • He becomes tense when talking about his past.

   Sinónimosanxiousedgyjitterynervousstraineduneasyuptightworried

   Antónimoscalmcomposedeasygoingrelaxed

2. B1formal

   Pulled or stretched tightly; not loose or relaxed.

   Tenso, tirante

   • The rope was tense from the heavy load.
   • Her muscles were tense after the workout.
   • The fabric was tense across the frame.

   Sinónimosdrawnrigidstiffstrainedstretchedtauttight

   Antónimosflaccidlaxlimplooserelaxedslack

3. Phonetics: tense vowelC1formal

   Pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles, as in the vowel sound in 'beat'.

   vocal tensa

   • The vowel in 'see' is a tense vowel.
   • Linguists distinguish between tense and lax vowels.
   • In English, tense vowels are longer than lax vowels.

   Antónimoslax

• Categoría gramatical de los verbos que expresa el tiempo en que ocurre la acción, como pasado, presente o futuro.

1. Grammatical time referenceA2formal

   A grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time, such as past, present, or future.

   Tiempo gramatical

   • In English, the present tense is used for habitual actions.
   • She is learning the past tense of irregular verbs.
   • The future tense often uses the auxiliary verb 'will'.

• Verbo que significa estirar o poner algo en estado de tensión, o hacer que un músculo o parte del cuerpo se contraiga o rigidice; también implica volverse o hacer que algo se vuelva rígido, tirante o ansioso.

A verb used to indicate the act of making or becoming stretched, tight, or strained.

1. Become stretched or tautB2formal

   To become tight, rigid, or stretched, often as a result of physical effort or stress.

   tensarse

   • His muscles tensed as he prepared to lift the heavy box.
   • The rope tensed under the weight of the load.
   • She tensed her body before the race began.

   Sinónimosbracecontractflexstiffenstraintighten

   Antónimosloosenrelaxslacken

2. Increase tension on somethingB2formal

   To apply force to something to make it tighter or more taut.

   Tensar

   • He tensed the string of the bow before releasing the arrow.
   • The climber tensed the rope to secure his position.
   • She tensed the wire to ensure it was straight.

   Sinónimosstrainstretchtautentighten

   Antónimoseaseloosenrelaxslacken

3. Become nervous or uneasyB1informal

   To become anxious, nervous, or stressed, often in response to a situation.

   Ponerse tenso

   • She tensed up when she heard the loud noise.
   • He tensed as the interviewer asked a difficult question.
   • The crowd tensed as the final results were announced.

   Sinónimosbracestiffentense uptighten up

   Antónimoscalmrelaxunwind

4. Cause to be tense or anxiousB2formal

   To make someone feel nervous, uneasy, or anxious.

   Poner nervioso

   • The news tensed everyone in the room.
   • The constant pressure tensed the team before the deadline.
   • Her harsh words tensed the atmosphere between them.

   Sinónimosagitatefazeflusterfrazzlestressunnerveunsettleupset

   Antónimoscalmcomforteasereassurerelaxsoothe

Variantes phrasaltense up