taut

[tawt]
adjective, taut·er, taut·est.
1.
tightly drawn; tense; not slack.
2.
emotionally or mentally strained or tense: taut nerves.
3.
in good order or condition; tidy; neat.

Origin:
1275–1325; earlier taught, Middle English tought; akin to tow1

taut·ly, adverb
taut·ness, noun
un·taut, adjective
un·taut·ly, adverb
un·taut·ness, noun

taught, taut, taunt.


3. trim, trig, spruce, smart.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Taut is an SAT word you need to know.
So is abhor. Does it mean:
being more than is proper or normal; exaggerated in language or style.
to regard with extreme repugnance or aversion; detest utterly; loathe; abominate.
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World English Dictionary
taut (tɔːt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  tightly stretched; tense
2.  showing nervous strain; stressed
3.  chiefly nautical in good order; neat
 
[C14 tought; probably related to Old English togian to tow1]
 
'tautly
 
adv
 
'tautness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

taut
early 14c., tohte, possibly from tog-, pp. stem of O.E. teon "to pull, drag," from P.Gmc. *tugn, from PIE *deuk- "to lead" (see duke).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Instead of a taut line, it's performed on inch-thick nylon webbing that
  stretches and bounces.
If it is a round eggplant, it should be taut and almost bulging.
In certain waves, the rope becomes alternatively slack and taut as the buoys
  lean toward and pull away from each other.
He orders his team to hold the net taut over the crash bag.
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