transitive. To pull taut; to bring (e.g. a rope, piece of cloth) to a rigid state of straightness or evenness by the application of tractive force…

To make tight or tense; to stretch, strain (esp. the skin of a drum). Cf. brace, n.2 10.

To tighten with or as with a wrest or wrench; †to tune (a harp, etc.) in this way. Also with up.

To stretch, extend, make taut or tight; to draw (a bow). Now archaic.

transitive. To stretch, make tense or taut; to set (a trap, snare, etc.). Obsolete.

figurative with up.

transitive. To tighten (the strings of a musical instrument), in order to alter the pitch, by turning the tuning pegs or keys. Also: to tighten…

transitive. To make (something) taut (in various senses).

transitive. To make tense.

transitive. To make tense; to stretch tight; spec. of vowel sounds (cf. tense, adj. 1c). Also reflexive and with up.

(transitive) to subject to tension, tighten, make taut.