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View synonyms for

tension

[ ten-shuhn ]

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.


verb (used with object)

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

tension

/ ˈɛʃə /

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 )

      low-tension

      high-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
“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

tension

  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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Derived Forms

  • ˈٱԲDzԱ, adjective
  • ˈٱԲDzԲ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • ٱsDz· adjective
  • ٱsDz· adjective
  • v·ٱsDz noun
  • p·ٱsDz noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of tension1

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin ŧԲō-, stem of ŧԲō, “a stretching,” equivalent to ŧԲ(ܲ) “stretched” (past participle of tendere “to stretch, extend, proceed”; tend 1 ) + -ion
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Word History and Origins

Origin of tension1

C16: from Latin ٱԲō, from tendere to strain
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He said the Hamas attack on Israel of 7 October 2023, and the ensuing Israeli bombardment of Gaza unleashed "long-simmering tensions" on Harvard's campus.

From

But there is a tension between this message and what plays out on the ground - not in diplomatic talks between leaders, but on main streets and in supermarkets as Americans go about their daily lives.

From

In the days since, tensions between India and Pakistan, which both claim Kashmir in full but administer it only in part, have significantly risen, with each side announcing retaliatory measures against the other.

From

Bailey, the author of the new biography “Gandolfini,” was struck by what he now calls “the tension between seemingly incompatible parts” within the actor.

From

Even if tariffs against the UK are not extended, EY said any further trade tensions could have an indirect impact on UK growth by damaging the global economy.

From

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