tension
Americannoun
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the act of stretching or straining.
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the state of being stretched or strained.
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mental or emotional strain; intense, suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement.
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a strained relationship between individuals, groups, nations, etc.
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(not in current use) pressure, especially of a vapor.
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Mechanics.
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the longitudinal deformation of an elastic body that results in its elongation.
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the force producing such deformation.
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Electricity. electromotive force; potential.
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Machinery. a device for stretching or pulling something.
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a device to hold the proper tension on the material being woven in a loom.
verb (used with object)
noun
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the act of stretching or the state or degree of being stretched
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mental or emotional strain; stress
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a situation or condition of hostility, suspense, or uneasiness
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physics a force that tends to produce an elongation of a body or structure
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physics
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voltage, electromotive force, or potential difference
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( in combination )
high-tension
low-tension
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a device for regulating the tension in a part, string, thread, etc, as in a sewing machine
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knitting the degree of tightness or looseness with which a person knits
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A force that tends to stretch or elongate something.
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An electrical potential (voltage), especially as measured in electrical components such as transformers or power lines involved in the transmission of electrical power.
Other Word Forms
- overtension noun
- supertension noun
- tensional adjective
- tensionless adjective
Etymology
Origin of tension
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That type of increase is normal when tensions flared with Tehran in recent years.
Arsenal are going to have to navigate the tension of the title race with just nine matches left in their bid to win a first league title since 2004.
From BBC
As tensions mounted in the days ahead of the attacks, traders flocked to both prediction markets to place bets on an expected conflict with Iran.
From MarketWatch
As tensions mounted in the days ahead of the attacks, traders flocked to both prediction markets to place bets on an expected conflict with Iran.
From MarketWatch
During dozens of demonstrations, SRG officers were documented by New York Civil Liberties Union protest monitors escalating tensions and turning peaceful gatherings into scenes of mayhem.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
