tension

American  

[ten-shuhn] / ˈtɛn ʃən /

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, especially of a vapor.

6. Mechanics.

   1. the longitudinal deformation of an elastic body that results in its elongation.

   2. 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.

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verb (used with object)

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

tension British  

/ ˈtɛnʃən /

noun

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

2. mental or emotional strain; stress

3. a situation or condition of hostility, suspense, or uneasiness

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

5. physics

   1. voltage, electromotive force, or potential difference

   2. ( in combination )

      high-tension

      low-tension

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

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

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tension Scientific  

/ tĕn′shən /

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.

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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

Middle East tensions pose challenges to Japan’s trade balance, DBS’s economics team said, given the country’s significant dependence on the region for crude oil.

From The Wall Street Journal

A Federal Reserve rate cut would benefit risk-on assets, but Middle East tensions could keep interest rates higher.

From Barron's

Oil prices were climbing as tensions escalated in the Strait of Hormuz—and despite the International Energy Agency confirming a record release of emergency oil reserves.

From Barron's

The flare-up in tensions in the Middle East “triggered a shift in the oil futures curve, with nearby contracts rising far more than longer-dated ones,” he explained.

From MarketWatch

Market analysts—from major banks to surveys of energy economists—commonly estimate that tensions involving Iran add roughly $5 to $15 a barrel to global oil prices under normal conditions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• anxiety
• apprehension
• concern
• discomfort
• hostility
• jitters
• nervousness
• pressure
• strain
• suspense
• unease
• worry