tautness

/ˈtɔːtnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtɔːtnəs/ (ame, ipa)

tautness — noun

1. the state of being pulled or stretched so firmly that there is no looseness or g

1.名詞B2
釋義

the state of being pulled or stretched so firmly that there is no looseness or give — used of ropes, fabric, skin, and other surfaces under strain

例句

Lakan checked the tautness of the climbing rope before stepping onto the ledge.

check + tautness of [object]

The tautness of the drum skin gave the beat a sharp, clean sound.

同義詞
  • tightness

    more everyday; used for clothes, lids, spaces as well as stretched surfaces

  • tension

    focuses on the pulling force itself rather than the resulting state

  • rigidity

    implies stiffness and resistance to bending, not necessarily from being stretched

反義詞
  • slackness

    the state of being loose or not pulled tight

  • looseness

    lack of firmness or tightness in how something is held or fitted

2. a quality of nervous excitement or anxious strain that shows in a person's voice

2.名詞C1
釋義

a quality of nervous excitement or anxious strain that shows in a person's voice, body, or in the atmosphere around them

例句

Vikram felt a tautness in his chest as the interview began.

tautness in [body part] for emotional state

The tautness in the room broke when Bilal made a quiet joke.

同義詞
  • tension

    more general; covers conflict between people as well as internal strain

  • edginess

    sharper and more irritable; suggests someone about to snap

  • strain

    implies pressure built up over time, often from difficult circumstances

反義詞
  • ease

    freedom from worry or nervous tension

  • relaxation

    the state of being free from tension and anxiety

用法筆記

Often paired with body-part nouns (chest, jaw, shoulders) to describe the physical signs of emotional stress. Distinguish from sense 1: here the tightness is felt internally as anxiety, not measured externally on an object.

常見錯誤

❌I felt a tautness in my ankle after the run.
✅I felt tightness in my ankle after the run.
💡tautness in this emotional sense describes nervous strain; for ordinary muscle tightness after exercise, use 'tightness' or 'stiffness'.

3. the quality of a piece of writing, speech, or artistic work in which every eleme

3.名詞C2
釋義

the quality of a piece of writing, speech, or artistic work in which every element is tightly controlled and nothing is wasted — every word or moment serves the whole

例句

Kevin admired the tautness of the short story — not a word was wasted.

tautness of [written work]

The editor praised the tautness of the final draft, cut from eighty pages to forty.

同義詞
  • concision

    focuses strictly on brevity; lacks the sense of compressed dramatic energy

  • economy

    emphasises using minimal resources to maximum effect

  • tightness

    more informal; often used in editorial contexts ('the script needs more tightness')

反義詞
  • wordiness

    using more words than needed; the opposite of controlled brevity

  • verbosity

    excessive wordiness that dilutes meaning and impact

用法筆記

Used specifically of creative or communicative works — novels, screenplays, speeches, films — where concision creates power. Not simply 'short': a taut piece feels compressed and charged with energy rather than merely brief.

常見錯誤

❌The email was good because of its tautness.
✅The email was good because it was concise.
💡tautness in this sense describes artistic control in crafted works (fiction, film, speeches); for everyday brevity, 'conciseness' or 'brevity' is more natural.