What is the meaning of tense?

noun

• A grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time.

verb

• Become stretched or tense or taut.
  • usage: "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached"
  • synonyms: strain
• Increase the tension on.
  • usage: "alternately relax and tense your calf muscle"; "tense the rope manually before tensing the spring"
• Become tense, nervous, or uneasy.
  • usage: "He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room"
  • synonyms: tense up
• Cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious.
  • usage: "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up"
  • synonyms: strain, tense up

adjective

• 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.
  • usage: "tense piano strings"