tautness
/ˈtɔːtnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtɔːtnəs/ (ame, ipa)
tautness — 名詞
1. the state of being pulled or stretched so firmly that there is no looseness or g
繃緊
如繩索拉緊、布料繃平的物理狀態
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
Lakan checked the tautness of the climbing rope before stepping onto the ledge.
Lakan 在踏上岩壁前檢查了攀岩繩的繃緊程度。
check + tautness of [object]
The tautness of the drum skin gave the beat a sharp, clean sound.
鼓面的繃緊讓節拍聽起來清脆響亮。
After weeks of rain, the tent lost its tautness and began to sag.
連下幾週的雨後，帳篷失去了繃緊度，開始下陷。
Yara pulled the thread through the cloth, testing the tautness of each stitch.
Yara 將線拉過布料，檢查每一針的繃緊狀況。
A good trampoline needs the right tautness — too loose and you cannot bounce.
好的彈跳床需要恰到好處的繃緊度——太鬆就彈不起來了。
2. a quality of nervous excitement or anxious strain that shows in a person's voice
緊繃
情緒如弦拉緊、隨時可能斷裂
a quality of nervous excitement or anxious strain that shows in a person's voice, body, or in the atmosphere around them
Vikram felt a tautness in his chest as the interview began.
Vikram 在面試開始時感到胸口一陣緊繃。
tautness in [body part] for emotional state
The tautness in the room broke when Bilal made a quiet joke.
Bilal 說了個輕聲的笑話後，房間裡的緊繃氣氛才緩和下來。
Sivan could hear the tautness in her mother's voice over the phone.
Sivan 從電話中聽得出母親聲音裡的緊繃。
For weeks after the accident, a constant tautness followed Astrid everywhere.
事故發生後的幾週裡，一股持續的緊繃感如影隨形地跟著 Astrid。
Mathieu noticed the tautness in his jaw and tried to relax before speaking.
Mathieu 注意到自己下顎的緊繃，試著在開口前放鬆。
- 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
3. the quality of a piece of writing, speech, or artistic work in which every eleme
精練
文字無贅詞、節奏緊湊有力
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
Kevin admired the tautness of the short story — not a word was wasted.
Kevin 很欣賞那篇短篇小說的精練——一個字都沒有浪費。
tautness of [written work]
The editor praised the tautness of the final draft, cut from eighty pages to forty.
編輯稱讚最終稿的精練，從八十頁刪到了四十頁。
Caio's speech had a tautness that held the audience from the first line.
Caio 的演講精練有力，從第一句話就抓住了聽眾。
The tautness of the thriller kept Noor turning pages well past midnight, unable to put the book down.
那本驚悚小說的精練讓 Noor 一路翻頁到深夜，捨不得放下書。
Liam read the script aloud and was struck by its tautness and clean rhythm.
Liam 大聲朗讀了劇本，對其精練和流暢的節奏感到驚訝。
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.