Adjacent Words

Tension definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TEN'SION, n. [L. tensio, tendo.]
1. The act of stretching or straining; as the tension of the muscles.
2. The state of being stretched or strained to stiffness; or the state of being bent or strained; as, different degrees of tension in chords give different sounds; the greater the tension, the more acute the sound.
3. Distension.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense; "he suffered from fatigue and emotional tension"; "stress is a vasoconstrictor" [syn: tension, tenseness, stress]
2: the physical condition of being stretched or strained; "it places great tension on the leg muscles"; "he could feel the tenseness of her body" [syn: tension, tensity, tenseness, tautness]
3: a balance between and interplay of opposing elements or tendencies (especially in art or literature); "there is a tension created between narrative time and movie time"; "there is a tension between these approaches to understanding history"
4: (physics) a stress that produces an elongation of an elastic physical body; "the direction of maximum tension moves asymptotically toward the direction of the shear"
5: feelings of hostility that are not manifest; "he could sense her latent hostility to him"; "the diplomats' first concern was to reduce international tensions" [syn: latent hostility, tension]
6: the action of stretching something tight; "tension holds the belt in the pulleys"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin tension-, tensio, from tendere Date: 1533 1. a. the act or action of stretching or the condition or degree of being stretched to stiffness ; tautness b. stress 1b 2. a. either of two balancing forces causing or tending to cause extension b. the stress resulting from the elongation of an elastic body 3. a. inner striving, unrest, or imbalance often with physiological indication of emotion b. a state of latent hostility or opposition between individuals or groups c. a balance maintained in an artistic work between opposing forces or elements 4. a device to produce a desired tension (as in a loom) • tensional adjective • tensionless adjective II. transitive verb (tensioned; tensioning) Date: 1891 to subject to tension; especially to tighten to a desired or appropriate degree • tensioner noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 the act or an instance of stretching; the state of being stretched; tenseness. 2 mental strain or excitement. 3 a strained (political, social, etc.) state or relationship. 4 Mech. the stress by which a bar, cord, etc. is pulled when it is part of a system in equilibrium or motion. 5 electromagnetic force (high tension; low tension). --v.tr. subject to tension. Derivatives: tensional adj. tensionally adv. tensionless adj. Etymology: F tension or L tensio (as TEND(1))

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Vapor pressure Vapor pressure or tension tension . (Physics) The pressure or tension of a confined body of vapor. The pressure of a given saturated vapor is a function of the temperature only, and may be measured by introducing a small quantity of the substance into a barometer and noting the depression of the column of mercury.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Tension Ten"sion, n. [L. tensio, from tendere, tensum, to stretch: cf. F. tension. See Tense, a.] 1. The act of stretching or straining; the state of being stretched or strained to stiffness; the state of being bent strained; as, the tension of the muscles, tension of the larynx. 2. Fig.: Extreme strain of mind or excitement of feeling; intense effort. 3. The degree of stretching to which a wire, cord, piece of timber, or the like, is strained by drawing it in the direction of its length; strain. --Gwilt. 4. (Mech.) The force by which a part is pulled when forming part of any system in equilibrium or in motion; as, the tension of a srting supporting a weight equals that weight. 5. A device for checking the delivery of the thread in a sewing machine, so as to give the stitch the required degree of tightness. 6. (Physics) Expansive force; the force with which the particles of a body, as a gas, tend to recede from each other and occupy a larger space; elastic force; elasticity; as, the tension of vapor; the tension of air. 7. (Elec.) The quality in consequence of which an electric charge tends to discharge itself, as into the air by a spark, or to pass from a body of greater to one of less electrical potential. It varies as the quantity of electricity upon a given area. Tension brace, or Tension member (Engin.), a brace or member designed to resist tension, or subjected to tension, in a structure. Tension rod (Engin.), an iron rod used as a tension member to strengthen timber or metal framework, roofs, or the like.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(tensions) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. Tension is the feeling that is produced in a situation when people are anxious and do not trust each other, and when there is a possibility of sudden violence or conflict. The tension between the two countries is likely to remain... N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl 2. Tension is a feeling of worry and anxiety which makes it difficult for you to relax. Smiling and laughing has actually been shown to relieve tension and stress. N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl 3. If there is a tension between forces, arguments, or influences, there are differences between them that cause difficulties. The film explored the tension between public duty and personal affections. N-VAR: usu N between pl-n 4. The tension in something such as a rope or wire is the extent to which it is stretched tight.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Stretching, straining. 2. Stiffness, tenseness, rigor, tensity. 3. Strain, rigor, severe effort. 4. Strain. 5. (Phys.) Expansive force, elastic force.

Moby Thesaurus

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