Dictionary.com

tension

[ ten-shuhn ]
/ ˈtɛn ʃən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR tension ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

verb (used with object)

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

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Origin of tension

1525–35; <Latin tēnsiōn- (stem of tēnsiō) a stretching. See tense1, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM tension

ten·sion·al, adjectiveten·sion·less, adjectiveo·ver·ten·sion, nounsu·per·ten·sion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to tension

pressure, stress, strain, nervousness, anxiety, apprehension, hostility, unease, discomfort, jitters, suspense, worry, concern, force, rigidity, stiffness, balance, constriction, tautness, stretching

Example sentences from the Web for tension

British Dictionary definitions for tension

tension
/ (ˈtɛnʃən) /

noun

Derived forms of tension

tensional, adjectivetensionless, adjective

Word Origin for tension

C16: from Latin tensiō, from tendere to strain
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for tension

tension
[ tĕn′shən ]

n.

The act or process of stretching something tight.
The condition of so being stretched.
A force tending to stretch or elongate something.
The partial pressure of a gas, especially dissolved in a liquid such as blood.
Mental, emotional, or nervous strain.
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.

Scientific definitions for tension

tension
[ tĕn′shən ]

A force that tends to stretch or elongate something.
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 © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.