The Clue
Noun concerning verbs (5 letter answer)
The Answer
TENSE
Tags
Notes
The answer TENSE is seen frequently, appearing about once every 80 puzzles.
Related Clues
On edge
Edgy
Jittery
Nervous
Pluperfect, for one
Present, for one
Rigid
Stiffen
Strained
Stressed
Taut
Uptight
All nerves
Drawn tight
Ex-lax?
Future, e.g.
High-strung
Highly charged
Keyed up
In need of a rubdown
Not relaxed
Present, e.g.
Stiffen, with "up"
Up-tight
Verb form
Worked up
Wound up
Language study topic
Like a game overtime
Past, present or future
Tied up in knots
Time indicator, of sorts
It may be present
It might be past
Like a Hitchcock audience, typically
Like sudden-death playoffs
Definition
TENSE as a noun:
1. a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
TENSE as a verb:
1. (strain, tense) = become stretched or tense or taught; "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached"
2. increase the tension on; "alternately relax and tense your calf muscle"; "tense the rope manually before tensing the spring"
3. (tense, tense up) = become tense, nervous, or uneasy; "He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room"
4. (tense, strain, tense up) = cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious; "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up"
TENSE as an adjective:
1. in or of a state of physical or nervous tension
2. pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat')
3. taut or rigid; stretched tight; "tense piano strings"