tense      /ˈtɛns/   adjective (tenso, tensa)   comparative and superlative forms: tenser; tensest     1 : nervous and not able to relax • She was feeling pretty tense. • Why are you so tense?   2 : showing or causing nervousness • a tense situation • We sat quietly for a few tense moments. • It was a tense meeting. • atense thriller   3 : not relaxed but hard and tight • My calf muscles are reallytense. • tense muscles   — tensely adverb • She looked at him tensely. • We sat tensely. — tenseness noun [noncount]   Learn about tense as a verb and as a noun.