tense2 (
also tense up)
verb [intransitive and transitive] [
Word Family: noun:
tenseness,
tension;
verb:
tense;
adverb:
tensely;
adjective:
tense]
to make your muscles tight and stiff, or to become tight and stiff:
Relax, and try not to tense up so much. Every time the phone rang, she tensed. [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲