3 ADJ If your body is tense , your muscles are tight and not relaxed. □ A bath can relax tense muscles. ● tense|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ If you feel a tenseness around the eyes, relax your muscles.
4 VERB If your muscles tense , if you tense , or if you tense your muscles, your muscles become tight and stiff, often because you are anxious or frightened. □ [V ] Newman's stomach muscles tensed. □ [V n] Jane tensed her muscles to stop them from shaking. ● PHRASAL VERB Tense up means the same as tense . □ [V P ] When we are under stress our bodies tend to tense up. □ [V P n] Tense up the muscles in both of your legs. [Also V n P ]
5 N‑COUNT The tense of a verb group is its form, which usually shows whether you are referring to past, present, or future time. Compare aspect .
▸ tense up → see tense 4
ten|sile /te nsa I l, [AM ] -s I l/ ADJ [ADJ n] You use tensile when you are talking about the amount of stress that materials such as wire, rope, and concrete can take without breaking; a technical term in engineering. □ Certain materials can be manufactured with a high tensile strength.
ten|sion ◆◇◇ /te nʃ ə n/ (tensions )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Tension is the feeling that is produced in a situation when people are anxious and do not trust each other, and when there is a possibility of sudden violence or conflict. □ [+ between ] The tension between the two countries is likely to remain.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Tension is a feeling of worry and anxiety which makes it difficult for you to relax. □ Smiling and laughing has actually been shown to relieve tension and stress.
3 N‑VAR If there is a tension between forces, arguments, or influences, there are differences between them that cause difficulties. □ [+ between ] The film explored the tension between public duty and personal affections.
4 N‑UNCOUNT The tension in something such as a rope or wire is the extent to which it is stretched tight. SYNONYMS tension NOUN
1
friction: The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.
hostility: There is a lot of hostility between them.
antagonism: There is still much antagonism between trades unions and the oil companies.
2
stress: Katy could think clearly when not under stress.
worry: His last years were overshadowed by financial worry.
anxiety: Her voice was full of anxiety.
strain: She was tired and under great strain.
tent /te nt/ (tents ) N‑COUNT A tent is a shelter made of canvas or nylon which is held up by poles and ropes, and is used mainly by people who are camping.
ten|ta|cle /te ntək ə l/ (tentacles )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The tentacles of an animal such as an octopus are the long thin parts that are used for feeling and holding things, for getting food, and for moving.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] If you talk about the tentacles of a political, commercial, or social organization, you are referring to the power and influence that it has in the outside community. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] Free speech is being gradually eroded year after year by new tentacles of government control.
ten|ta|tive /te ntət I v/
1 ADJ Tentative agreements, plans, or arrangements are not definite or certain, but have been made as a first step. □ Political leaders have reached a tentative agreement. ● ten|ta|tive|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The next round of talks is tentatively scheduled to begin in October.
2 ADJ If someone is tentative , they are cautious and not very confident because they are uncertain or afraid. □ My first attempts at complaining were rather tentative. ● ten|ta|tive|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Perhaps, he suggested tentatively, they should send for Dr Band.
tent|ed /te nt I d/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A tented field or a tented camp is an area where a number of people are living in tents.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A tented room has long pieces of material hanging down from the centre of the ceiling to the walls, so that the room has the appearance of the inside of a large tent. □ …a tented dining area.
tenter|hooks /te ntə r hʊks/ PHRASE If you are on tenterhooks , you are very nervous and excited because you are wondering what is going to happen in a particular situation. □ He was still on tenterhooks waiting for his directors' decision about the job.
tenth ◆◆◇ /te nθ/ (tenths )
1 ORD The tenth item in a series is the one that you count as number ten.
2 FRACTION A tenth is one of ten equal parts of something. □ We received only two tenths of an inch of rain during the entire month of June.
tenu|ous /te njuəs/ ADJ If you describe something such as a connection, a reason, or someone's position as tenuous , you mean that it is very uncertain or weak. □ The cultural and historical links between the many provinces were seen to be very tenuous. ● tenu|ous|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The sub-plots are only tenuously interconnected.
ten|ure /te njə r /
1 N‑UNCOUNT Tenure is the legal right to live in a particular building or to use a particular piece of land during a fixed period of time. □ Lack of security of tenure was a reason for many families becoming homeless.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Tenure is the period of time during which someone holds an important job. □ [+ of ] …the three-year tenure of the President.