tauten
verb
taut·en ˈtȯ-tᵊn 
tautened; tautening ˈtȯt-niŋ
ˈtȯ-tᵊn-iŋ
transitive verb
: to make taut
tauten the rope
intransitive verb
: to become taut
Synonyms
- strain
- stretch
- tense
- tighten
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The wire tautened as they pulled on it. he tautened the rope and then tied it off
Recent Examples on the Web Pimples pop, pupils dilate, tendons tauten, and breathing gets so shallow that people fall into respiratory acidosis. 
John Pearley Huffman, Car and Driver, 20 Apr. 2022 Those systems use hydraulics or electromagnetic fluids to soften or tauten the ride. Jack Stewart, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2018 BMW’s adaptive dampers stifle road imperfections and tauten the 5 Series for hard cornering. Miles Branman, Orange County Register, 26 Feb. 2017
John Pearley Huffman, Car and Driver, 20 Apr. 2022 Those systems use hydraulics or electromagnetic fluids to soften or tauten the ride. Jack Stewart, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2018 BMW’s adaptive dampers stifle road imperfections and tauten the 5 Series for hard cornering. Miles Branman, Orange County Register, 26 Feb. 2017 Word History
First Known Use
1777, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
tauten
verb
as in to tighten
to draw tight he tautened the rope and then tied it off Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- tighten
- tense
- stretch
- elongate
- strain
- lengthen
- extend
- cinch
- constrict
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loosen
- slacken
- slack
- relax
- ease