tightness

Everyday

1. Tightness is being tight: fitting very closely, being firmly fixed, or being pulled hard: the tightness of my shoes, the tightness of a rope. tree →
2. Tightness in your body is a feeling of being squeezed or stiff: tightness in the chest, in the muscles. tree →
3. Tightness can also mean being close and loyal, as a group: the tightness of a team. tree →
4. Tightness of money means there is very little to spare. tree →

In the lessons

In PE and health lessons, stretching helps muscle tightness. Safety: sudden chest tightness, especially with pain or trouble breathing, needs an adult and maybe emergency help; in asthma, chest tightness is a warning sign to use an inhaler. In stories it describes worry: "a tightness in her throat". Phrases: "chest tightness", "muscle tightness", "tightness of money".

Examples

• The tightness of my new shoes gave me blisters. tree →
• Stretching before the race helped the tightness in my legs. tree →
• Tell an adult if you feel tightness in your chest. tree →
• My asthma makes my chest feel tight; the tightness goes after my inhaler. tree →
• Check the tightness of the bike's bolts before you ride. tree →
• She felt a tightness in her throat before she cried. tree →
• The team's tightness helped them win. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Formed from tight + ness. Adverb: tightly. "Tight" can also be informal UK slang for mean with money (stingy).