tension

[ ten-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of stretching or straining.
2. the state of being stretched or strained.
3. mental or emotional strain; intense, suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement.
4. a strained relationship between individuals, groups, nations, etc.
5. (not in current use) pressure, especially of a vapor.
6. Mechanics.
   1. the longitudinal deformation of an elastic body that results in its elongation.
   2. the force producing such deformation.
7. Electricity. electromotive force; potential.
8. Machinery. a device for stretching or pulling something.
9. a device to hold the proper tension on the material being woven in a loom.

verb (used with object)

1. to subject (a cable, belt, tendon, or the like) to tension, especially for a specific purpose.

tension

/ ˈtɛnʃən /

noun

1. the act of stretching or the state or degree of being stretched
2. mental or emotional strain; stress
3. a situation or condition of hostility, suspense, or uneasiness
4. physics a force that tends to produce an elongation of a body or structure
5. physics
   1. voltage, electromotive force, or potential difference
   2. ( in combination )

      low-tension

      high-tension

6. a device for regulating the tension in a part, string, thread, etc, as in a sewing machine
7. knitting the degree of tightness or looseness with which a person knits

tension

/ tĕn′shən /

1. A force that tends to stretch or elongate something.
2. An electrical potential (voltage), especially as measured in electrical components such as transformers or power lines involved in the transmission of electrical power.

Derived Forms

• ˈtensionless, adjective
• ˈtensional, adjective

Other Words From

• tension·al adjective
• tension·less adjective
• over·tension noun
• super·tension noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tension¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin tēnsiōn-, stem of tēnsiō, “a stretching,” equivalent to tēns(us) “stretched” (past participle of tendere “to stretch, extend, proceed”; tend ¹ ) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of tension¹

C16: from Latin tensiō, from tendere to strain

Example Sentences

The status of the Elgin Marbles - also known as the Parthenon Sculptures - has been a source of diplomatic tension between the UK and Greece for decades.

From BBC

Furthermore, experiments with the mathematical model and mouse brain samples showed that increasing the concentration of sugars in the solution around the axon or decreasing tension in the axonal membranes reduced the pearl structures' size.

From Science Daily

But would such a shell be strong enough to support itself, or would it simply collapse under its own tension?

From Science Daily

As the lawsuit unfolds, it underscores broader tensions in the grocery industry over labor rights and market consolidation.

From Salon

That tension — between editorial desire for a straightforward narrative and blurry reality — is made more complicated by herding, when polling firms toss results that don’t align with a dominant plotline.

From Salon

Related Words

• anxiety
• apprehension
• concern
• discomfort
• hostility
• jitters
• nervousness
• pressure
• strain
• suspense
• unease
• worry