1. Extended or spread over a wide area or distance.
2. (Of muscles) Relieved of stiffness by stretching.
3. (Of the body) Extended to full length; SYN. stretched out.
ETYM Dan. taet; akin to Eng. tight. Related to Tight.
(Homonym: taught).
Pulled or drawn tight; SYN. tight.
ETYM Latin tensus, p. p. of tendere to stretch. Related to Tend to move, and cf. Toise.
1. Taut or rigid; stretched tight.
2. In or of a state of physical or nervous tension.
3. (Phonetics) Pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in 'beat').
In a tense manner.