Also means
tense, eager (of a person)
Usage Note
Gespannt describes something held under tension — gespanntes Seil (taut rope), gespannte Muskeln (tense muscles). Applied to people, it means expectant or keenly attentive: gespannt auf etwas warten (to wait eagerly for something). Both uses are very common.
Examples
"Das Seil war so gespannt, dass es bei der kleinsten Belastung riss."
Natural Translation
The rope was so taut that it snapped at the slightest strain.
Literal Translation
The rope was so taut that it tore at the smallest load.
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