Meaning : Become stretched or tense or taut.
Example :
The bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed.
The rope strained when the weight was attached.
Synonyms : strain
Meaning : Increase the tension on.
Example :
Alternately relax and tense your calf muscle.
Tense the rope manually before tensing the spring.
Meaning : In or of a state of physical or nervous tension.
Without strain or anxiety.
Gave the impression of being quite relaxed.Meaning : Pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat').
Pronounced with muscles of the tongue and jaw relatively relaxed (e.g., the vowel sound in `bet').
laxMeaning : Taut or rigid. Stretched tight.
Example :
Tense piano strings.