Definition of "tautens" []

• Third-person singular simple present indicative form of tauten. (verb)

Wiktionary.org : Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

• "As the lot approaches, one's heartbeat quickens, the mouth grows dry, the body tautens."
• "Suddenly he tautens up his muscles and stands up straight with shoulders back and clenched hands."
• "The thick rope tautens as the firemen lay their weight to it."