tensile
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to tension.
tensile strain.
-
capable of being stretched or drawn out; ductile.
adjective
-
of or relating to tension
-
sufficiently ductile to be stretched or drawn out
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tensile
From the New Latin word tēnsilis, dating back to 1620–30. See tense 1, -ile
Explanation
Use the adjective tensile to describe materials that can be shaped, such as the tensile clay that a potter crafts into a bowl or vase. Tensile rhymes with "pencil." It might remind you of the word tense, and in fact, tensile can also mean "having to do with tension." Think about a tensile material, like wire. It will stretch and stretch until it reaches its limit. Drawn tight, with no slack, the wire has tensile stress.
Vocabulary lists containing tensile
The ACT Science Test: Physics Review
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Physical Science: Physical Laws, Work, and Motion
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"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 1
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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.
The sound system is handled by an L-Acoustics L-ISA 250-speaker matrix suspended dynamically behind a specialized acoustic fabric wall, material that Anadol loves to let people touch gently to confirm its woven tensile character.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026
He wields a pared, tensile modern English that can pivot, in a breath, from the brutal to the tender.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
The material's ultimate tensile strength, i.e., the amount of stress the paper could withstand, stood at 59.85 MPa, representing an improvement of over 60%.
From Science Daily ● May 14, 2024
Doing so increases the tensile strength of the bags so much that they’re actually stronger than traditional plastic—as mighty as nylon used in parachutes and safety belts.
From National Geographic ● Jan. 16, 2024
Maybe it would burn, but she doubted that; it was lush summer growth, tensile vines and green leaves.
From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt
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.
