tense

• Décrit un état de tension physique, de nervosité ou d'anxiété, ou ce qui provoque de l'inquiétude.

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.

   Tendu

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

   Synonymesanxiousedgyjitterynervousstraineduneasyuptightworried

   Antonymescalmcomposedeasygoingrelaxed

2. B1formal

   Pulled or stretched tightly; not loose or relaxed.

   tendu

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

   Synonymesdrawnrigidstiffstrainedstretchedtauttight

   Antonymesflaccidlaxlimplooserelaxedslack

3. Phonetics: tense vowelC1formal

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

   voyelle tendue

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

   Antonymeslax

• Catégorie grammaticale des verbes qui exprime des distinctions temporelles, comme le passé, le présent ou le futur.

1. Grammatical time referenceA2formal

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

   temps grammatical

   • 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'.

• Verbe utilisé pour désigner l'action de tendre, raidir ou contracter quelque chose, ou de devenir tendu ou rigide.

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.

   se tendre

   • 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.

   Synonymesbracecontractflexstiffenstraintighten

   Antonymesloosenrelaxslacken

2. Increase tension on somethingB2formal

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

   tendre

   • 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.

   Synonymesstrainstretchtautentighten

   Antonymeseaseloosenrelaxslacken

3. Become nervous or uneasyB1informal

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

   devenir tendu

   • 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.

   Synonymesbracestiffentense uptighten up

   Antonymescalmrelaxunwind

4. Cause to be tense or anxiousB2formal

   To make someone feel nervous, uneasy, or anxious.

   Rendre tendu ou anxieux

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

   Synonymesagitatefazeflusterfrazzlestressunnerveunsettleupset

   Antonymescalmcomforteasereassurerelaxsoothe

Variantes phrasaltense up