taut

IPA/tɔːt/
KK[tˈɔt]IPA/tɔːt/

taut — 形容詞

  • tautpositive
  • tautercomparative
  • tautestsuperlative

1. pulled or drawn so firmly that there is no looseness or slack — used of rope, fa

1.形容詞B2
釋義

繃緊的

拉緊而無鬆弛的狀態

pulled or drawn so firmly that there is no looseness or slack — used of rope, fabric, skin, or a surface that is stretched to its limit

例句

Saira pulled the rope taut and tied it to the metal ring on the dock.

Saira 把繩子拉緊，然後繫在碼頭的金屬環上。

pull + taut (collocation: pull sth taut)

The trampoline fabric must stay taut so the children do not touch the ground.

彈跳床的布料必須保持繃緊，這樣孩子們才不會碰到地面。

同義詞
  • tight

    more general — can mean firmly fixed, fitting closely, or difficult to move, not necessarily at full stretch

  • stretched

    focuses on the action of pulling outward; less about the resulting tensionless state

  • rigid

    implies stiffness rather than tension; a rigid object does not bend even without being pulled

反義詞
  • loose

    not firmly fixed or stretched

  • slack

    not pulled tight; hanging loosely

  • limp

    lacking firmness; easily bent or drooping

2. showing or caused by nervous tension, worry, or anxiety — used of a person's voi

2.形容詞B2
釋義

緊張的

因焦慮而繃緊的狀態

showing or caused by nervous tension, worry, or anxiety — used of a person's voice, expression, mood, or the atmosphere in a situation

例句

Tamar's voice sounded taut and clipped when she answered the phone.

Tamar 接電話時，聲音聽起來繃緊而簡短。

taut voice / taut expression

The atmosphere in the hall grew taut as the judges prepared to announce the winner.

評審準備宣布優勝者時，大廳裡的氣氛變得緊張起來。

同義詞
  • tense

    more general; can describe both physical tightness and emotional strain

  • strained

    suggests visible effort to control oneself under pressure

  • edgy

    informal; describes a person who is easily annoyed or jumpy from nervousness

反義詞
  • relaxed

    free from tension or anxiety

  • calm

    not nervous or upset

  • easygoing

    cheerfully relaxed and not easily worried

用法筆記

Frequently describes physical signs of nervousness — voice, smile, expression, or the atmosphere — rather than the internal feeling itself. Compare with sense 4 (bodily firmness), which is a neutral or positive physical quality.

常見錯誤

❌She felt taut before her job interview.
✅She felt tense before her job interview.
💡'taut' describes visible signs of tension (voice, expression, atmosphere), not the internal feeling itself, for which 'tense' or 'anxious' is more natural.

3. using only the words or details that are needed, with nothing extra or unnecessa

3.形容詞C1
釋義

精簡的

文字簡潔無贅詞

using only the words or details that are needed, with nothing extra or unnecessary — used approvingly of writing, speech, film scripts, or storytelling

例句

The editor praised the travel blog for its taut prose and vivid descriptions.

編輯稱讚這篇旅遊部落格文筆精簡，描寫生動。

taut prose / taut writing

Quan's short story was so taut that every paragraph moved the plot forward.

Quan 的短篇小說非常精簡，每一段都在推動情節發展。

同義詞
  • concise

    the neutral term for saying much in few words; less vivid than 'taut'

  • tight

    more informal; suggests a well-structured, no-waste quality

  • lean

    suggests no unnecessary content; often used of business writing

  • compact

    suggests much information packed into a small space

反義詞
  • wordy

    using more words than needed

  • verbose

    formal; using too many words

  • rambling

    disorganized and going off topic

用法筆記

This is always a positive judgment — it describes writing that is efficiently structured, not merely short. A text that is 'taut' still communicates fully, just without waste.

常見錯誤

❌His essay was taut, missing many important points.
✅His essay was concise but thorough.
💡'taut' (and 'concise') imply efficient completeness, not omission. Missing content would be 'incomplete' or 'sketchy.'

4. firm, strong, and in good physical condition — used of a person's body, muscles,

4.形容詞B2
釋義

結實的

肌肉結實不鬆弛

firm, strong, and in good physical condition — used of a person's body, muscles, or skin that is not soft, loose, or flabby

例句

After months of yoga and running, Wei's arms looked lean and taut.

做了幾個月的瑜伽和跑步後，Wei 的手臂看起來精瘦而結實。

taut muscles / taut body

The dancer's taut stomach showed how many hours she had spent training.

那位舞者結實的腹肌顯示出她花了多少時間訓練。

同義詞
  • firm

    more general; can also describe inanimate objects like a mattress

  • toned

    specifically implies muscle conditioning through exercise

  • solid

    suggests strength and density more than shape

反義詞
  • flabby

    soft and hanging loosely, typically from lack of exercise

  • saggy

    drooping downward, no longer firm

  • soft

    lacking firmness; may be neutral or negative depending on context

用法筆記

Describes healthy, exercised body condition resulting from fitness training, not thinness from weight loss. A person can be slim but not have taut muscles.

常見錯誤

❌She lost weight and her skin became taut.
✅She lost weight and her skin became loose.
💡Weight loss often makes skin looser, not tauter. 'Taut' is associated with fitness and firmness, not thinness.