[pri-ten-shuh
n] 
| 1. | the laying of a claim to something. |
| 2. | a claim or title to something. |
| 3. | Often, pretensions. a claim made, esp. indirectly or by implication, to some quality, merit, or the like: They laughed at my pretensions to superior judgment. |
| 4. | a claim to dignity, importance, or merit. |
| 5. | pretentiousness. |
| 6. | the act of pretending or alleging. |
| 7. | an allegation of doubtful veracity. |
| 8. | a pretext. |
[pree-ten-shuhn] | 1. | (in prestressed-concrete construction) to apply tension to (reinforcing strands) before the concrete is poured. Compare posttension (def. 1). |
| 2. | to make (a concrete member) with pretensioned reinforcement. |
| pre·ten·sion (prĭ-těn'shən) n.
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