tensar

to tighten

tensar(tehn-sahr)

transitive verb

1. (to stretch)

a. to tighten

Estoy tensando las cuerdas de tender la ropa porque estaban flojas.

I am tightening the clotheslines because they were sagging.

b. to tense

Estar todo el día sentada en la computadora me tensa el cuello.

Sitting at my computer all day tenses my neck.

c. to tauten

Tensó la cuerda y saltó.

He tautened the rope and jumped.

d. to draw

Para lanzar la flecha correctamente hay que tensar el arco primero.

In order to shoot the arrow properly you have to draw the arch first.

2. (to put under strain)

a. to strain

Las mentiras constantes de Graciela tensaron su relación al punto de separarse.

Graciela's constant lies strained their relationship to the point that they split.

tensarse

pronominal verb

3. (to become tense)

a. to tighten

Cuando llegó su exmujer, se le tensaron todos los músculos.

When his ex-wife arrived, all his muscles tightened.

b. to become strained

Con la creciente inflación y el desempleo, la situación en el país se tensó.

With growing inflation and unemployment, the situation in the country became strained.