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tensor

[ten-ser, -sawr]
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noun
  1. Anatomy. a muscle that stretches or tightens some part of the body.
  2. Mathematics. a mathematical entity with components that change in a particular way in a transformation from one coordinate system to another.
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Origin of tensor

1695–1705; < New Latin: stretcher, equivalent to Latin tend(ere) to stretch (see tend1) + -tor -tor, with dt > s
Related formsten·so·ri·al [ten-sawr-ee-uh l, -sohr-] /tɛnˈsɔr i əl, -ˈsoʊr-/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for tensor

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • "I'm not so sure about that endocrine shift, sir," Tensor stated emotionlessly.

    Fair and Warmer

    E. G. von Wald

  • His image smiled into Tensor's mind and then hesitated as he saw the concern there.

    Fair and Warmer

    E. G. von Wald

  • Tensor said, puzzled that she knew that he might be concerned over her absence.

    Fair and Warmer

    E. G. von Wald

  • Quickly Tensor moved up parallel to it, while he speculated on what it meant.

    Fair and Warmer

    E. G. von Wald

  • Tensor could only assume that his point of view was becoming less abstract.

    Fair and Warmer

    E. G. von Wald

British Dictionary definitions for tensor

tensor

noun
  1. anatomy any muscle that can cause a part to become firm or tense
  2. maths a set of components, functions of the coordinates of any point in space, that transform linearly between coordinate systems. For three-dimensional space there are 3 r components, where r is the rank. A tensor of zero rank is a scalar, of rank one, a vector
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Derived Formstensorial (tɛnˈsɔːrɪəl), adjective

Word Origin

C18: from New Latin, literally: a stretcher
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

Word Origin and History for tensor

n.

muscle that stretches a part, 1704, Modern Latin agent noun of Latin tendere "to stretch" (see tenet).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
tensor in Medicine

tensor

(tĕn′sər, -sôr′)
n.
  1. A muscle that stretches or tightens a body part.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
tensor in Science

tensor

[tĕn′sər, -sôr′]
  1. A structure of quantities arranged by zero or more indices, such as a scalar (zero indices), a vector (one index), or a matrix (two indices), which is invariant under transformations of coordinates.
  2. Any of various muscles that stretch or tighten a body part, as the muscle that acts to tense the soft palate, called the tensor palati.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.