The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word IMPERFECT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Sunday Telegraph
I
M
P
E
R
F
E
C
T
More clues leading to the result IMPERFECT
- Tense boast of bighead?
- Tense? There's nothing wrong with me!
- Deficient naughty child fine with standing around
- Flawed rascal, free, in trouble with court
- Nursing cold, lost temper if tense
- Flawed politician involved in fierce struggles with Tory leader
- My claim of flawlessness making you tense
- Seconds may be this tense
- Tense and suffering blemishes?
- The declaration that I have no faults is flawed
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "tense" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case tense = imperfect.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does IMPERFECT mean?
IMPERFECT noun- Something having a minor flaw
- (grammar) a tense of verbs used in describing a past action that is incomplete or continuous
- To make imperfect
- Not perfect
- Unisexual: having either male (with stamens) or female (with pistil) flowers, but not with both.
- Known or expected to be polyphyletic, as of a form taxon.
- Lacking some elementary organ that is essential to successful or normal activity.
- (grammar) belonging to a tense of verbs used in describing a past action that is incomplete or continuous