tense
noun [ C ] uk/tens/ us/tens/
B1 （动词的）时态
any of the forms of a verb which show the time at which an action happened
"I sing" is in the present tense and "I sang" is in the past tense. I sing是现在式，I sang是过去式。
- More examples
- How do you say that in the future tense?
- Add -ed to all these verbs to put them in the past tense.
- Which tenses do you know already?
tense
adjective uk/tens/ us/tens/
(NERVOUS)
B2 紧张的，焦虑的
nervous and worried and unable to relax
She was very tense as she waited for the interview. 在等待面试时她非常紧张。
B2 （局势）令人紧张的
If a situation is tense, it causes feelings of worry or nervousness.
There were some tense moments in the second half of the game. 比赛的下半场有几次紧张的局面。
- More examples
- This attack will exacerbate the already tense relations between the two communities.
- The weeks following the riots were extremely tense.
- For a few tense minutes, the astronauts lost radio contact with mission control.
- Hendry won the world snooker title after a tense 35-frame final.
(STRETCHED)
（身体或肌肉）僵直的，绷紧的
(of your body or part of the body) stretched tight and stiff
phonetics specialized（语音）紧的;紧张音的
(of a speech sound) made with more force than other speech sounds
Compare: lax
tense
verb [ I or T ] uk/tens/ us/tens/ (also tense up)
（使）（身体或肌肉）绷紧，（使）变得僵直
If you or your muscles tense, your muscles become stiff and tight because you are frightened or nervous, or are preparing yourself to do something.
Don't tense your shoulders, just relax. 别缩紧肩膀，放松点。
I could feel myself tense up as he touched my neck. 他摸我脖子时，我能感觉到自己的身体绷紧了。
tensed up 紧张的，焦虑的
very nervous and worried and unable to relax because of something that is going to happen
You seem all tensed up. Are you still waiting for that call? 你好像很紧张。你还在等那个电话吗？