Adjective

1. taut, tight, tense (vs. lax)

usage: pulled or drawn tight; "taut sails"; "a tight drumhead"; "a tight rope"

2. taut, tense (vs. relaxed)

usage: subjected to great tension; stretched tight; "the skin of his face looked drawn and tight"; "her nerves were taut as the strings of a bow"

See also: taut (Dictionary)