tense

• adj. 紧张的；拉紧的
• vt. 变得紧张；使拉紧
• vi. 拉紧，变得紧张
• n. 时态

ten-,拉长，伸长，-s,过去分格词。即拉紧的，引申词义紧张的。

1. a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time

tense

tense: English has two separate words tense. The older, ‘verb form indicating time’ [14], came via Old French tens from Latin tempus ‘time’ (source also of English temporal, temporary, etc). The original meaning ‘time’ survived into English, but died out in the early 16th century. The adjective tense [17] was adapted from tensus, the past participle of Latin tendere ‘stretch’ (source also of English tend, tendency, etc). It originally meant simply ‘stretched tight’, and the metaphorical ‘strained’ did not emerge until the 19th century. Tension [16] comes from the Latin derivative tensiō.
=> temporary; tend

tense (adj.)

"stretched tight," 1660s, from Latin tensus, past participle of tendere "to stretch, extend" (see tenet). Figurative sense of "in a state of nervous tension" is first recorded 1821. Related: Tensely; tenseness.

tense (n.)

"form of a verb showing time of an action or state," early 14c., tens "time," also "tense of a verb" (late 14c.), from Old French tens "time, period of time, era; occasion, opportunity; weather" (11c., Modern French temps), from Latin tempus "a portion of time" (also source of Spanish tiempo, Italian tempo; see temporal).

tense (v.)

"to make tense," 1670s, from tense (adj.); intransitive sense of "to become tense" (often tense up) is recorded from 1946. Related: Tensed; tensing.

Instead of having a literal meaning, it docs something - conveying an attitude — just like the -ed ending conveys past tense rather than "meaning.

出自-2014年6月阅读原文

relations between whites and African Americans may become tense again

出自-2010年6月阅读原文

He's a very tense person.

他是个神经非常紧张的人。

牛津词典

She sounded tense and angry.

她的声音听起来又气又急。

牛津词典

I spent a tense few weeks waiting for the results of the tests.

等候测试结果的这几个星期里我寝食不安。

牛津词典

The atmosphere in the meeting was getting more and more tense.

会议的气氛越来越紧张。

牛津词典

A massage will relax those tense muscles.

按摩会使紧张的肌肉松弛。

牛津词典

the past/present/future tense

过去 / 现在 / 将来时态

牛津词典

His muscles tensed as he got ready to run.

他准备起跑时肌肉绷紧了。

牛津词典

She tensed, hearing the strange noise again.

再次听到那个奇怪的声音，她紧张起来。

牛津词典

She tensed her muscles in anticipation of the blow.

眼看要挨打，她绷紧了肌肉。

牛津词典

He tensed himself, listening to see if anyone had followed him.

他竖起耳朵谛听是否有人跟踪。

牛津词典

This gesture of goodwill did little to improve the tense atmosphere at the talks...

这一友好姿态基本上没有改善会谈的紧张气氛。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

After three very tense weeks he phoned again...

过了紧张不安的 3 个星期，他又一次打来电话。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

Dart, who had at first been very tense, at last relaxed.

起初，达特非常紧张，最后终于放松了下来。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

She lay, eyes shut, body tense...

她躺着，双目紧闭，全身绷直。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

A bath can relax tense muscles.

洗个澡可以放松紧张的肌肉。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

Newman's stomach muscles tensed...

纽曼的腹肌绷紧了。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

He tensed as the big West Indian gripped his shoulder...

那个大块头西印度群岛土著人抓住他的肩膀时，他浑身紧张起来。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

It was as though Corinne was already dead: they were speaking of her in the past tense.

科琳娜好像已经去世了：他们谈论她时用的是过去时。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

One said he could not see anything except the blue of the sky.

其中一个说除了蓝色的天空,他不看到任何东西.

期刊摘选

The present international situation remains tense and turbulent.

当前的国际局势依然紧张动荡.

《现代汉英综合大词典》

We were tense with expectancy.

我们因期待而神经紧张起来.

《简明英汉词典》

She realized how tense she was and consciously relaxed.

她发觉自己很紧张,于是有意识地放松了一下.

《简明英汉词典》

The situation is getting tense.

风声很紧.

《现代汉英综合大词典》

Is the rope tense?

绳子拉紧了 吗 ?

《简明英汉词典》

She was very tense, but she preserved an appearance of nonchalance.

她内心很紧张, 可外表却装着满不在乎的样子.

《现代汉英综合大词典》