Characterized by tension, anxiety, or stress; tense, strained, not relaxed.

Of a person or part of the body. Stiff, unbending; tense. Also, of a posture or physical response: characterized by stiffness or muscular tension.

Characterized by or exhibiting great spirit, vigour, or tension. Now chiefly: = highly strung adj. at highly, adv. compounds.

That has undergone winding up (see wind, v.1 20 to wind up at phrasal verbs).

Of the senses: Tense.

Highly strung, tense. Now rare.

gen. Strung too tightly; (chiefly figurative) too highly strung, overwrought.

Of a person. Feeling, or susceptible to, intense emotion or affection. Also, manifesting intense emotion or excitability, esp. in aesthetic or…

figurative. In a state of nervous or mental strain or tension; strained; highly strung; ‘on the stretch’; excited, or excitable; keenly sensitive.

Originally and chiefly U.S. Characterized by or exhibiting tension, nervousness, or (excessive) emotional sensitivity. Cf. high-keyed, adj. 2.

Raised or forced to a more intense state or condition; (of nerves) strained. Cf. screw, v. 16a(a).

Shaking, trembling, jittery; in a state of nervous agitation. Also: of a nervous or sensitive disposition. Also figurative.

Originally and chiefly U.S. Full of or characterized by strong emotion, great tension, or excitement; (of a person) highly strung; on edge.

In the sense of string, v. 3. Of nerves, feelings, etc.: In a state of tension. Also strung-up, and (North American slang) strung out (overlaps with…

Of the voice, gaze, attention, ‘nerves’, etc.: exerted by an abnormal effort or to an abnormal degree. Of look or expression: showing signs of…

Characterized by twitching; having a tendency to twitch; (hence) nervous, fidgety, irritable.

Originally U.S. keyed-up: in a state of tension or excitement; excited, stimulated. Cf. to key up at key, v. phrasal verbs 1.

Stretched tight, tense. Frequently const. up and in predic. use. Also figurative (cf. tense, adj. 2).

Of a person: in a state of nervous tension or anxiety; inhibited, worried, ‘on edge’; angry, ‘worked up’ (about something).

In extended use. Of a person. colloquial. Intoxicated or ‘high’ on drugs, esp. so as to become hyper or overstimulated. Hence: in a state of nervous…