tension

[ten·sion]

When things feel so tight they might snap, that's tension. If you buy your girlfriend a vacuum cleaner when she wanted diamonds, you will experience tension. Just before she storms out of the room.

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The act of stretching or straining; the state of being stretched or strained to stiffness; the state of being bent strained; as, the tension of the muscles, tension of the larynx.

Noun
the action of stretching something tight; "tension holds the belt in the pulleys"

Noun
(physics) a stress that produces an elongation of an elastic physical body; "the direction of maximum tension moves asymptotically toward the direction of the shear"

Noun
feelings of hostility that are not manifest; "he could sense her latent hostility to him"; "the diplomats'' first concern was to reduce international tensions"

Noun
a balance between and interplay of opposing elements or tendencies (especially in art or literature); "there is a tension created between narrative time and movie time"; "there is a tension between these approaches to understanding history"

Noun
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense; "he suffered from fatigue and emotional tension"; "stress is a vasoconstrictor"

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Noun
the physical condition of being stretched or strained; "it places great tension on the leg muscles"; "he could feel the tenseness of her body"


a.
The act of stretching or straining; the state of being stretched or strained to stiffness; the state of being bent strained; as, the tension of the muscles, tension of the larynx.

a.
Fig.: Extreme strain of mind or excitement of feeling; intense effort.

a.
The degree of stretching to which a wire, cord, piece of timber, or the like, is strained by drawing it in the direction of its length; strain.

a.
The force by which a part is pulled when forming part of any system in equilibrium or in motion; as, the tension of a srting supporting a weight equals that weight.

a.
A device for checking the delivery of the thread in a sewing machine, so as to give the stitch the required degree of tightness.

a.
Expansive force; the force with which the particles of a body, as a gas, tend to recede from each other and occupy a larger space; elastic force; elasticity; as, the tension of vapor; the tension of air.

a.
The quality in consequence of which an electric charge tends to discharge itself, as into the air by a spark, or to pass from a body of greater to one of less electrical potential. It varies as the quantity of electricity upon a given area.


Tension

Ten"sion , n. [L. tensio, from tendere, tensum, to stretch: cf. F. tension. See Tense, a.] 1. The act of stretching or straining; the state of being stretched or strained to stiffness; the state of being bent strained; as, the tension of the muscles, tension of the larynx. 2. Fig.: Extreme strain of mind or excitement of feeling; intense effort. 3. The degree of stretching to which a wire, cord, piece of timber, or the like, is strained by drawing it in the direction of its length; strain. Gwilt. 4. (Mech.) The force by which a part is pulled when forming part of any system in equilibrium or in motion; as, the tension of a srting supporting a weight equals that weight. 5. A device for checking the delivery of the thread in a sewing machine, so as to give the stitch the required degree of tightness. 6. (Physics) Expansive force; the force with which the particles of a body, as a gas, tend to recede from each other and occupy a larger space; elastic force; elasticity; as, the tension of vapor; the tension of air. 7. (Elec.) The quality in consequence of which an electric charge tends to discharge itself, as into the air by a spark, or to pass from a body of greater to one of less electrical potential. It varies as the quantity of electricity upon a given area. Tension brace, ∨ Tension member (Engin.), a brace or member designed to resist tension, or subjected to tension, in a structure. -- Tension rod (Engin.), an iron rod used as a tension member to strengthen timber or metal framework, roofs, or the like.

The act of stretching or straining; the state of being stretched or strained to stiffness; the state of being bent strained; as, the tension of the muscles, tension of the larynx.

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Usage Examples

The hallmark of our age is the tension between aspirations and sluggish institutions.

War alone brings up to their highest tension all human energies and imposes the stamp of nobility upon the peoples who have the courage to make it.

In editing, it's amazing how you choose the in and out points. What you cut on is everything for creating tension. It's amazing how expanding a shot by five seconds can just ruin the tension.

The average session takes about one to two hours. It's totally amazing because when a person breathes, they go through one stage of relaxation after another, and every stage releases tension.

It is a mistake for a sculptor or a painter to speak or write very often about his job. It releases tension needed for his work.

Honestly, I'd love to be remembered as one of the best to ever pick up a mic, but if I'm doing my part to lessen some racial tension I feel good about what I'm doing.

All I try to do is create an atmosphere that seems comfortable enough, that it removes tension and everyone feels free. If they feel free then behaviour happens, small moments happen and that's what ultimately works the best for me.

People are learning to feel more comfortable hearing one another's dreams. It used to be that if you told a dream in public, someone had to make a joke to relieve the tension introduced by that alternative reality.

Misspelled Form

tension, rtension, 5tension, 6tension, ytension, gtension, rension, 5ension, 6ension, yension, gension, trension, t5ension, t6ension, tyension, tgension, twension, t3ension, t4ension, trension, tsension, tdension, twnsion, t3nsion, t4nsion, trnsion, tsnsion, tdnsion, tewnsion, te3nsion, te4nsion, ternsion, tesnsion, tednsion, tebnsion, tehnsion, tejnsion, temnsion, te nsion, tebsion, tehsion, tejsion, temsion, te sion, tenbsion, tenhsion, tenjsion, tenmsion, ten sion, tenasion, tenwsion, tenesion, tendsion, tenxsion, tenzsion, tenaion, tenwion, teneion, tendion, tenxion, tenzion, tensaion, tenswion, tenseion, tensdion, tensxion, tenszion, tensuion, tens8ion, tens9ion, tensoion, tensjion, tenskion, tensuon, tens8on, tens9on, tensoon, tensjon, tenskon, tensiuon, tensi8on, tensi9on, tensioon, tensijon, tensikon, tensiion, tensi9on, tensi0on, tensipon, tensilon, tensiin, tensi9n, tensi0n, tensipn, tensiln, tensioin, tensio9n, tensio0n, tensiopn, tensioln, tensiobn, tensiohn, tensiojn, tensiomn, tensio n, tensiob, tensioh, tensioj, tensiom, tensio , tensionb, tensionh, tensionj, tensionm, tension .

Other Usage Examples

As the tension eases, we must look in the direction of agriculture, industry and education as our final goals, and toward democracy under Mr Mubarak.

Humor helps ease the tension of race and the differences in society. If there wasn't comedy I don't know if Obama could have ever become president.

I have realized that I hate going to the premieres of the movies that I'm in. Because I feel this tension after the movie is over that everyone feels obligated to say something nice to you. It's so unnatural and uncomfortable.

Music in movies is all about dissonance and consonance, tension and release.

Music is like a huge release of tension.

But I think the real tension lies in the relationship between what you might call the pursuer and his quarry, whether it's the writer or the spy.

Baseball happens to be a game of cumulative tension but football, basketball and hockey are played with hand grenades and machine guns.

So what does a good teacher do? Create tension - but just the right amount.

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