tension

ten·sion

 (tĕn′shən)

n.

1.

a. The act or process of stretching something tight.

b. The condition of so being stretched; tautness.

2.

a. A force tending to stretch or elongate something.

b. A measure of such a force: a tension on the cable of 50 pounds.

3.

a. Mental, emotional, or nervous strain: working under great tension to make a deadline.

b. Barely controlled hostility or a strained relationship between people or groups: the dangerous tension between opposing military powers.

4. A balanced relation between strongly opposing elements: "the continuing, and essential, tension between two of the three branches of government, judicial and legislative" (Haynes Johnson).

5. The interplay of conflicting elements in a piece of literature, especially a poem.

6. A device for regulating tautness, especially a device that controls the tautness of thread on a sewing machine or loom.

7. Electricity Voltage or potential; electromotive force.

tr.v. ten·sioned, ten·sion·ing, ten·sions

To subject to tension; tighten.

---

[Latin tēnsiō, tēnsiōn-, a stretching out, from tēnsus, past participle of tendere, to stretch; see tense¹.]

---

ten′sion·al adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

tension

(ˈtɛnʃən)

n

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. (General Physics) physics a force that tends to produce an elongation of a body or structure

5. (General Physics) physics

a. voltage, electromotive force, or potential difference

b. (in combination): high-tension; low-tension.

6. (Mechanical Engineering) a device for regulating the tension in a part, string, thread, etc, as in a sewing machine

7. (Knitting & Sewing) knitting the degree of tightness or looseness with which a person knits

[C16: from Latin tensiō, from tendere to strain]

ˈtensional adj

ˈtensionless adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ten•sion

(ˈtɛn ʃən)

n.

1. the act of stretching or straining.

2. the state of being stretched or strained.

3. mental or emotional strain.

4. intense, suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement.

5. a strained relationship between individuals, groups, nations, etc.

6.

a. the longitudinal deformation of an elastic body that results in its elongation.

b. the force producing such deformation.

7. electromotive force; potential.

8. a device for extending or maintaining tension, as on material in a loom.

v.t.

9. to subject (a cable, belt, tendon, or the like) to tension.

[1525–35; < Latin tēnsiō constriction < tend(ere) to stretch (compare tend¹)]

ten′sion•al, adj.

ten′sion•less, adj.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

ten·sion

(tĕn′shən)

1. Physics A force that tends to stretch or elongate something.

2. Electricity A difference of electrical potential; voltage: high-tension wires.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

tension

- Originally a medical term for the condition of being physically strained.

See also related terms for medical term.

Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

Tension

 

See Also: ANXIETY, NERVOUSNESS

1. Back … tense as a tiger’s —D. H. Lawrence
2. Body rigid from shoulder to belly as though he had been stricken with elphantiasis —Kenzaburo Oë
3. (There continued to be) a certain strain, like dangerously stretched rubber bands —Thalia Selz
4. Feel tension rising off me like a fever —Richard Ford
5. Feel the tension coming out of Justin like a fever —Paige Mitchell
6. Felt his insides drawn together like the lips of a wound —Helen Hudson
7. Felt like a swimmer about to dive —Marguerite Yourcenar
8. His solar plexus knotted up like a sea anemone —Ursula Le Guin
9. In times of stress I enter into a semicomatose state like an instinct-driven opossum —Leigh Allison Wilson
10. My back became like a stick —Natsume Söseki
11. My stomach drops as if I’m in a balky elevator —W. P. Kinsella
12. (Looked about as) relaxed as a safecracker —Joseph Wambaugh
13. Spines … stiffened like pulled twine —Louise Erdrich
14. Stiffen like a cat that’s been hit by something —Shirley Ann Grau
15. (When I approach you) stiffen like an egg white —Diane Ackerman
16. Stiffen like a stump —David Wagoner
17. Strung up like a piano wire —Elizabeth Spencer
18. (Body) taut like wire —Anaïs Nin
19. Tense and careful as a man handling a bomb —Dorothy Canfield Fisher

    See Also: CAUTION

20. Tense and fluttering like a fish out of water —George Garrett

    See Also: TREMBLING

21. Tense and still like a figure in a frieze —Ross Macdonald

    See Also: IMMOBILITY

22. Tense as an animal in fear, ready to snap or go limp beneath its keeper’s grasp —Louise Erdrich
23. (I lay) tense as a piano wire —W. P. Kinsella
24. Tense as a player on the bench —Maureen Howard, New York Times Magazine, May 25, 1986
25. Tense as a thoroughbred at the starting gate —Anon television feature on New York marathoners, November 1, 1986
26. Tense as a wound spring —Joseph Heller
27. (Voices) tense as barks —Edward Hoagland
28. (People were as) tense as fiddle strings —Dorothy Canfield Fisher
29. Tense as if my neck were tipped back, my mouth agape, and I was preparing for the dentist’s needle —W. P. Kinsella
30. Tense as rectitude —Norman Mailer
31. Tension broke like heat after a thunderstorm in a nervous burst of laughter —Lael Tucker Wertenbaker
32. Tension ran like a red-hot wire through the men —Marjory Stoneman Douglas
33. Tension stretching like taut wires across the room —Ross Macdonald
34. Tension … vibrates like a melancholy bell —David K. Shipler, New York Times Book Review, March 1, 1987
35. Tight as a duck —Graham Masterton

    The simile was found as part of a sex scene. In full context it reads: “With her own fingers, she slipped him inside her, and although she was as tight as a duck, she was also warm and wet and irresistible.”

36. (His hand was) tight as a knot —Ann Beattie
37. Tight as a man going to the electric chair —Norman Mailer

    Mailer before being interviewed by Mike Wallace.

38. Tight as a quivering string —David Nevin
39. Tight as a sheet on a hospital bed —Anon
40. (Throats were) tight as tourniquets —Karl Shapiro
41. Tightly controlled … as if he was tied down to his desk by leather straps —Anon White House colleague about Robert McFarlane during the Iran-Contra scandal, quoted in New York Times, March 2, 1987
42. (He always came back from the ballfield) turned tighter than the bolts on an automobile tire —Norman Keifetz

    The simile from a novel about a baseball player (The Sensation) continues as follows: “By that jack-handle known as ‘being a pro’.”

Similes Dictionary, 1st Edition. © 1988 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	tension - (psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense; "he suffered from fatigue and emotional tension"; "stress is a vasoconstrictor" stress, tenseness psychological science, psychology - the science of mental life mental strain, nervous strain, strain - (psychology) nervousness resulting from mental stress; "his responsibilities were a constant strain"; "the mental strain of staying alert hour after hour was too much for him" yips - nervous tension that causes an athlete to fail (especially causes golfers to miss short putts); "to avoid the yips he changed his style of putting" breaking point - (psychology) stress at which a person breaks down or a situation becomes crucial
	2.	tension - the physical condition of being stretched or strained; "it places great tension on the leg muscles"; "he could feel the tenseness of her body" tautness, tenseness, tensity condition, status - a state at a particular time; "a condition (or state) of disrepair"; "the current status of the arms negotiations" tonicity, tonus, tone - the elastic tension of living muscles, arteries, etc. that facilitate response to stimuli; "the doctor tested my tonicity"
	3.	tension - 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" artistic creation, artistic production, art - the creation of beautiful or significant things; "art does not need to be innovative to be good"; "I was never any good at art"; "he said that architecture is the art of wasting space beautifully" literature - creative writing of recognized artistic value balance - a state of equilibrium
	4.	tension - (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" natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics" stress - (physics) force that produces strain on a physical body; "the intensity of stress is expressed in units of force divided by units of area"
	5.	tension - feelings of hostility that are not manifest; "he could sense her latent hostility to him"; "the diplomats' first concern was to reduce international tensions" latent hostility antagonism, enmity, hostility - a state of deep-seated ill-will
	6.	tension - the action of stretching something tight; "tension holds the belt in the pulleys" stretching - act of expanding by lengthening or widening

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

tension

noun

1. strain, stress, nervousness, pressure, anxiety, unease, apprehension, suspense, restlessness, the jitters (informal), edginess Smiling relieves tension and stress.
strain relaxation, serenity, tranquillity, calmness, peacefulness, restfulness

2. friction, hostility, unease, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, ill feeling The tension between the two countries is likely to remain.

3. rigidity, tightness, stiffness, pressure, stress, stretching, straining, tautness Slowly, the tension in his face dispersed.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

tension

noun

The act, condition, or effect of exerting force on someone or something:

pressure, strain, stress.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

تَوَتُّرتوتُّر عَصَبينوتّر

napětípnutítlak

angstanspændthedspændingspændthed

SpannungTonus

έντασητεντώνω

tensión

jännitejännittääjännitys

tensiontension nerveuse

napetost

strekking, spennataugaspenna

tensionevoltaggio

緊張

긴장

spanninggespannen

spennspenningspent forholdspenthet

napięcie

tensão

напряжениенапряжённостьнатяжениенатянутостьострота

napnutie

napetost

spänning

ความตึงเครียด

gerginlikgerilimtansiyonendişe

tình trạng căng thẳng

紧张拉紧

tension

[ˈtenʃən] N

1. (= unease) (in atmosphere, situation) → tensión f; (in relations) → tensión f, tirantez f
there is a lot of tension between them → entre ellos existe mucha tirantez

2. (= stiffness) [of person, in shoulders] → tensión f

3. (= tightness) [of rope, wire] → tensión f, tirantez f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

tension

[ˈtɛnʃ^ən] n

(= strained relationship or state) → tension f
The tension between the two countries is likely to remain → La tension entre les deux pays semble appelée à durer., Les tensions entre les deux pays semblent appelées à durer.

(= anxiety and worry) → tension f
Laughing has been shown to relieve tension → Il a été démontré que le rire atténue la tension.

[rope, wire] → tension f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

tension

n

(lit) → Spannung f; (of muscle) → Anspannung f; (Knitting) → Festigkeit f; (Sew) → Spannung f; to check the tension (Knitting) → eine Maschenprobe machen

(= nervous strain) → nervliche Belastung, Anspannung f

(in relationship) → Spannungen pl

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

tension

[ˈtɛnʃ/ən] n → tensione f

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

tense²

(tens) adjective

1. strained; nervous. The crowd was tense with excitement; a tense situation. gespanne مُتَوَتِّر، عَصَبي напрегнат tenso napjatý gespannt anspændt; spændt; nervøs που βρίσκεται σε υπερένταση, τεταμένοςtenso pinev نگران؛ عصبی jännittynyt crispé, tendu מָתוּחַ घबराया हुआ napet feszült tegang spenntur teso, ansioso 緊張した 긴장된 įtemptas, įsitempęs saspīlēts; sasprindzināts; nervozs cemas gespannenspent, nervøsnapiętytenso tensionat, încordat напряжённый napätý napet napet spänd ตึงเครียด gergin, sinirli 緊張的 напружений کشيدہ căng thẳng 紧张的

2. tight; tightly stretched. gespan مَشْدود обтегнат esticado napnutý gespannt anspændt τεντωμένοςtirante, tenso pingul کشیده kireä tendu מָתוּחַ तनावपूर्ण, कसा हुआ krut, nategnut feszes kencang strekktur teso 強く張った 팽팽한 įtemptas savilkts; nospriegots tegang strakforstrukket, stram naprężony esticado încordat натянутый napnutý napet napet spänd, sträckt, stram ตึง gergin, gerili 拉緊的 натягнутий; тугий تنا ہوا căng 拉紧的

verb

to make or become tense. He tensed his muscles. span, strek يَشُد، يُوَتِّر напрягам (се) retesar(-se) napnout spannen spænde σφίγγω, τεντώνωtensar pingutama منقبض کردن؛ کشیده کردن jännittää tendre לִמתוֹחַ तनना, तानना, कसना, कसा जाना istegnuti, nategnuti megfeszít mengencangkan spenna tendere, tendersi 緊張させる (근육 등을) 긴장시키다 į(si)tempti sasprindzināt; sasprindzināties menegangkan spannenstramme, spenne napinać (się) retesar a (se) încorda напрягать napnúť napeti (se) napeti spänna ทำให้ตึง kas(ıl)mak, ger(il)mek 拉緊 натягувати(ся) تننا، کشيدہ کرنا làm căng ra 拉紧

ˈtensely adverb

gespan بِشِدَّه، بِتَوَتُّر стегнато tensamente napjatě gespannt anspændt τεταμένα de manera tensa pinguldatult بطور عصبی kireästi d'une manière tendue בִּדרִיכוּת तनावपूर्ण से, चिंताजनक napeto feszesen; feszülten dengan tegang með spennu con tensione 緊張して 긴장되게 įtemptai saspringti dgn tegang gespannenspent, stramt w napięciu tensamente cu încordare напряжённо napäto napeto napeto spänt อย่างเคร่งเครียด gergin olarak 緊張地 напружено کشا کش کے ساتھ căng thẳng 紧张地

ˈtenseness noun

gespannenheid تَوَتُّر، إنْشِداد стегнатост tensão napjatost, napětí die Spannung anspændthed; nervøsitet έντασηtensión pingulolek تنش kireys tensionמתיחות तनावपूर्ण, चिंताजनक napetost feszültség; merevség kekencangan spenna tensione 緊張 긴장됨 įtampa spriedze; saspīlējums ketegangan gespannenheidspenning, anspenthetnapięcie, naprężenie tensão tensiune напряжённость napätosť, napätie napetost napetost spändhet ความเครียด gerginlik 緊張 напруженість کشا کش sự căng thẳng 紧张

ˈtension (-ʃən) noun

1. the state of being stretched, or the degree to which something is stretched. the tension of the rope. styfheid تَوَتُّر разтягане tensão (na)pnutí die Spannung spændthed έντασηtensión pingulolek کشش kireys tensionמתח तनाव nategnutost feszülés ketegangan strekking, spenna tensione 緊張 장력 įtampa, įtempimas nostiepšana; nospriegojums tegangan spanningstramming; spenthet; spenn naprężenie tensão tensiune натяжение napätie, napnutie napetost nategnutost spänning, sträckning ความตึง gerginlik, gerilim 拉緊 натяг, натягування پھيلاؤ sự căng 拉紧

2. mental strain; anxiety. She is suffering from nervous tension; the tensions of modern life. spanning توتُّر عَصَبي напрежение tensão napětí, tlak die Spannung anspændthed; angst υπερένταση, άγχος, ανησυχίαtensión pinge تنش؛ فشار روحی jännittyneisyys tensionמתח दबाव napetost, tjeskoba feszültség ketegangan saraf taugaspenna tensione 不安 긴장, 불안 įtampa, įtempimas spriedze; stress ketegangan; perasaan cemas overspanninganspenthet, spent forholdnapięcietensão (stare de) tensiune напряжение napätie napetost napetost anspänning ความเครียด tansiyon, gerginlik, endişe 緊張 напруженість بے چيني، ذہني تناؤ tình trạng căng thẳng 紧张

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

tension

→ تَوَتُّر napětí spænding Spannung ένταση tensión jännite tension napetost tensione 緊張 긴장 spanning spenning napięcie tensão напряжение spänning ความตึงเครียด gerginlik tình trạng căng thẳng 紧张

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

ten·sion

n. tensión.

1. acto o efecto de estirarse o ser extendido;

2. grado de estiramiento;

3. sobreesfuerzo mental, emocional o físico;

premenstrual ___ → ___ premenstrual

4. expansión de un gas o vapor;

surface ___ → ___ superficial.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

tension

n tensión f; nervous — tensión nerviosa

English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.