(grammar, countable) Any of the forms of a verb which distinguish when an action or state of being occurs or exists.

(linguistics, grammar, countable) An inflected form of a verb that indicates tense.

(linguistics, uncountable) The property of indicating the point in time at which an action or state of being occurs or exists.

(grammar, transitive) To apply a tense to.

(transitive) To make tense.

(intransitive) To become tense.

Showing signs of stress or strain; not relaxed.

Pulled taut, without any slack.