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tension

 - 6 dictionary results
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ten⋅sion

  [ten-shuhn]
Use tension in a Sentence
–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, esp. of a vapor.
6. Mechanics.
a. the longitudinal deformation of an elastic body that results in its elongation.
b. 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)
10. to subject (a cable, belt, tendon, or the like) to tension, esp. for a specific purpose.
Origin:
1525–35; < L tēnsiōn- (s. of tēnsiō) a stretching. See tense 1 , -ion

Related forms:
ten⋅sion⋅al, adjective
ten⋅sion⋅less, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ten·sion   (těn'shən)   
n.  

    1. The act or process of stretching something tight.

    2. The condition of so being stretched; tautness.

    3. A force tending to stretch or elongate something.

    4. A measure of such a force: a tension on the cable of 50 pounds.

    5. Mental, emotional, or nervous strain: working under great tension to make a deadline.

    6. Barely controlled hostility or a strained relationship between people or groups: the dangerous tension between opposing military powers.

    1. A force tending to stretch or elongate something.

    2. A measure of such a force: a tension on the cable of 50 pounds.

    3. Mental, emotional, or nervous strain: working under great tension to make a deadline.

    4. Barely controlled hostility or a strained relationship between people or groups: the dangerous tension between opposing military powers.

    1. Mental, emotional, or nervous strain: working under great tension to make a deadline.

    2. Barely controlled hostility or a strained relationship between people or groups: the dangerous tension between opposing military powers.

  4. A balanced relation between strongly opposing elements: "the continuing, and essential, tension between two of the three branches of government, judicial and legislative" (Haynes Johnson).

  5. The interplay of conflicting elements in a piece of literature, especially a poem.

  6. A device for regulating tautness, especially a device that controls the tautness of thread on a sewing machine or loom.

  7. Electricity Voltage or potential; electromotive force.

tr.v.   ten·sioned, ten·sion·ing, ten·sions
To subject to tension; tighten.

[Latin tēnsiō, tēnsiōn-, a stretching out, from tēnsus, past participle of tendere, to stretch; see tense1.]
ten'sion·al adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

tension 
1533, "a stretched condition," from M.Fr. tension, from L. tensionem (nom. tensio) "a stretching" (in M.L. "a struggle, contest"), from tensus, pp. of tendere "to stretch," from PIE base *ten- "stretch" (see tenet). The sense of "nervous strain" is first recorded 1763. The meaning "electromotive force" (in high-tension wires) is recorded from 1802.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ten·sion
Pronunciation: 'ten-ch&n
Function: noun
1 a : the act or action of stretching or the condition or degree of beingstretched to stiffness tension> b : STRESS 1b
2 a : either of twobalancing forces causing or tending to cause extension b : the stress resulting from the elongation of an elastic body
3 : inner striving, unrest, or imbalanceoften with physiological indication of emotion
4 : PARTIAL PRESSURE tension> —ten·sion·al /'tench-n&l, -&n-&l/ adjective —ten·sion·less /'ten-ch&n-l&s/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

tension ten·sion (těn'shən)
n.
Abbr. T

  1. The act or process of stretching something tight.

  2. The condition of so being stretched.

  3. A force tending to stretch or elongate something.

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

  5. Mental, emotional, or nervous strain.

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

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
tension   (těn'shən)  Pronunciation Key 

  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.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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