Synonyms: tense
Definition: a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
Similar words: grammatical category, syntactic category
Definition: (grammar) a category of words having the same grammatical properties
Synonyms: strain, tense, tense up
Definition: cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious
Usage: he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up
Similar words: affect
Definition: act physically on; have an effect upon
Usage: the medicine affects my heart rate
Definition: become tense, nervous, or uneasy
Usage: He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room
Similar words: turn, change state
Definition: undergo a transformation or a change of position or action
Usage: We turned from Socialism to Capitalism; The people turned against the President when he stole the election
Synonyms: tense
Definition: increase the tension on
Usage: alternately relax and tense your calf muscle; tense the rope manually before tensing the spring
Similar words: alter, change, modify
Definition: cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
Usage: The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city; The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue
Definition: become stretched or tense or taut
Usage: the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed; the rope strained when the weight was attached
Synonyms: tense
Definition: taut or rigid; stretched tight
Usage: tense piano strings
Similar words: overstrung
Definition: too tightly strung
Usage: an overstrung archery bow
Definition: pulled or drawn tight
Usage: taut sails; a tight drumhead; a tight rope
Synonyms: tense
Definition: pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat')
Similar words: constricted
Definition: especially tense; especially in some dialects
Synonyms: tense
Definition: in or of a state of physical or nervous tension
Similar words: aroused, wound up
Definition: brought to a state of great tension
Usage: all wound up for a fight
Similar words: suspenseful, suspensive, cliff-hanging, nail-biting
Definition: (of a situation) characterized by or causing suspense
Similar words: taut
Definition: subjected to great tension; stretched tight
Usage: the skin of his face looked drawn and tight; her nerves were taut as the strings of a bow
Similar words: itchy, fidgety, fretful, antsy
Definition: nervous and unable to relax
Usage: a constant fretful stamping of hooves; a restless child
Similar words: jittery, jumpy, nervy, overstrung, high-strung, highly strung, uptight, edgy, restive
Definition: being in a tense state
Similar words: electric
Definition: (of a situation) exceptionally tense
Usage: an atmosphere electric with suspicion
Similar words: isotonic
Definition: of two or more muscles; having equal tension
Similar words: nervous
Definition: easily agitated
Usage: a nervous addict; a nervous thoroughbred
Similar words: strained
Definition: showing signs of mental and emotional tension
Usage: her voice was strained as she asked the question
Similar words: unrelaxed
Definition: nor relaxed
Usage: his life was drawing to a close in baffled zeal and unrelaxed strain- U.B.Phillips
Similar words: wired, pumped, pumped up, pumped-up
Definition: tense with excitement and enthusiasm as from a rush of adrenaline
Usage: we were really pumped up for the race; he was so pumped he couldn't sleep