tension

[ ten-shuh n ]

/ ˈtɛn ʃən /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tension ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of stretching or straining.

the state of being stretched or strained.

mental or emotional strain; intense, suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement.

a strained relationship between individuals, groups, nations, etc.

(not in current use) pressure, especially of a vapor.

Mechanics.

the longitudinal deformation of an elastic body that results in its elongation.
the force producing such deformation.

Electricity. electromotive force; potential.

Machinery. a device for stretching or pulling something.

a device to hold the proper tension on the material being woven in a loom.

verb (used with object)

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

Origin of tension

1525–35; < Latin tēnsiōn- (stem of tēnsiō) a stretching. See tense¹, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM tension

ten·sion·al, adjective ten·sion·less, adjective o·ver·ten·sion, noun su·per·ten·sion, noun

Words nearby tension

tensile, tensile strength, tensile stress, tensimeter, tensiometer, tension, tension cavity, tension curve, tension headache, tension suture, tensity

Example sentences from the Web for tension

Yes, cops are under stress and tension (though their jobs are far less dangerous than normally supposed).

We Need Our Police to Be Better Than This |Nick Gillespie |December 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“This tension was not well received at the Vatican,” according to Tosatti.

Is The Pope Unprotected Now That He’s Fired the Head of the Swiss Guards? |Barbie Latza Nadeau |December 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
That's a step forward from the tension of the past two years.

Beijing’s ‘Star Trek’ APEC Summit |Jake Adelstein |November 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Really, sortition strikes at the tension at the heart of elective representative democracy.

Is It Time to Take a Chance on Random Representatives? |Michael Schulson |November 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

For instance, when a couple is having trouble, the tension and hostility can bleed into BDSM scenes.

Coming Out Kinky to Your Doctor, in Black and Blue |Heather Boerner |October 25, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Various things can influence the coming on of this degree of tension in the stomach, and so the possibility of hunger.

Physiology |Ernest G. Martin
The old face relaxed from its tension, and a gleam of happiness was in the life of it.

When Ghost Meets Ghost |William Frend De Morgan
The tension of approaching combat suddenly blended with the memory, welling up into a rush of tenderness and affection.

Slingshot |Irving W. Lande
The tension on her nerves had given way, and she had instantly fainted.

Guy Kenmore's Wife and The Rose and the Lily |Mrs. Alex McVeigh Miller
The greater the tension, the better is the sound transmitted.

The Telephone |A. E. Dolbear

British Dictionary definitions for tension

tension

/ (ˈtɛnʃən) /

noun

the act of stretching or the state or degree of being stretched

mental or emotional strain; stress

a situation or condition of hostility, suspense, or uneasiness

physics a force that tends to produce an elongation of a body or structure

physics

voltage, electromotive force, or potential difference
(in combination)high-tension; low-tension

a device for regulating the tension in a part, string, thread, etc, as in a sewing machine

knitting the degree of tightness or looseness with which a person knits

Derived forms of tension

tensional, adjective tensionless, adjective

Word Origin for tension

C16: from Latin tensiō, from tendere to strain

Medical definitions for tension

tension

[ tĕn′shən ]

n.

The act or process of stretching something tight.

The condition of so being stretched.

A force tending to stretch or elongate something.

The partial pressure of a gas, especially dissolved in a liquid such as blood.

Mental, emotional, or nervous strain.

Barely controlled hostility or a strained relationship between people or groups.

Scientific definitions for tension

tension

[ tĕn′shən ]

A force that tends to stretch or elongate something.

An electrical potential (voltage), especially as measured in electrical components such as transformers or power lines involved in the transmission of electrical power.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tension

noun

verb (used with object)

Origin of tension

OTHER WORDS FROM tension

Words nearby tension

Example sentences from the Web for tension

British Dictionary definitions for tension

noun

Derived forms of tension

Word Origin for tension

Medical definitions for tension

n.

Scientific definitions for tension

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tension

noun

verb (used with object)

Origin of tension

OTHER WORDS FROM tension

Words nearby tension

Words related to tension

Example sentences from the Web for tension

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for tension

noun

Derived forms of tension

Word Origin for tension

Medical definitions for tension

n.

Scientific definitions for tension

British Dictionary definitions for tension