Tension is the feeling that is produced in a situation when people are anxious and do not trust each other, and when there is a possibility of sudden violence or conflict.
The tension between the two countries is likely to remain. [+ between]
...continued tension over the killing of demonstrators.
The years of his government are remembered for political tension and conflict.
Synonyms: friction, hostility, unease, antagonism More Synonyms of tension
2. uncountable noun
Tension is a feeling of worry and anxiety which makes it difficult for you to relax.
She has done her best to keep calm but finds herself trembling with tension and indecision.
Smiling and laughing has actually been shown to relieve tension and stress.
3. variable noun
If there is a tension between forces, arguments, or influences, there are differences between them that cause difficulties.
The film explored the tension between public duty and personal affections. [+ between]
4. uncountable noun
The tension in something such as a rope or wire is the extent to which it is stretched tight.
More Synonyms of tension
tension in British English
(ˈtɛnʃən)
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
a.
voltage, electromotive force, or potential difference
b.
(in combination)
high-tension
low-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
Derived forms
tensional (ˈtensional)
adjective
tensionless (ˈtensionless)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Latin tensiō, from tendere to strain
tension in American English
(ˈtɛnʃən)
noun
1.
a tensing or being tensed
2.
mental or nervous strain, often accompanied by muscular tautness
3.
a state of strained relations; uneasiness due to mutual hostility
4.
a device for regulating tension or tautness, as of thread in a sewing machine
5.
voltage
6. Loosely
the expansive force, or pressure, of a gas or vapor
7.
a.
stress on a material produced by the pull of forces tending to cause extension
b.
a force or combination of forces exerting such a pull against the resistance of the material
8.
a balancing of forces or elements in opposition
verb transitive
9.
to subject to tension
Derived forms
tensional (ˈtensional)
adjective
Word origin
< MFr or L: MFr < L tensio < tensus: see tense1
tension in Mechanical Engineering
(tɛnʃən)
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Mechanics and dynamics)
The tension of a string, cable, etc is how much it is being stretched.
Adjust the tension to loosen or tighten the belt.
Turning a small screw increases or decreases the tension of the spring.
The tension of a string, cable, etc is how much it is being stretched.
tensor
Examples of 'tension' in a sentence
tension
I knew the evening had to come to an end, and I already felt all the tension of how we'd say goodbye.
Kate Cann READY? (2001)
Trust Samaranan to say the one thing guaranteed to ease his tension.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
Rae herself would have put it, A house is an illustration of the power of tension.
Laurie R. King FOLLY (2001)
In other languages
tension
British English: tension /ˈtɛnʃən/ NOUN
Tension is a feeling of fear or nervousness produced before a difficult, dangerous, or important event.
The tension between the two countries is likely to remain.
American English: tension
Arabic: تَوَتُّر
Brazilian Portuguese: tensão
Chinese: 紧张
Croatian: napetost
Czech: napětí vypětí
Danish: spænding
Dutch: spanning strakzetten
European Spanish: tensión músculo
Finnish: jännite jännitystila
French: tension nervosité
German: Spannung Anspannung
Greek: ένταση κοινωνική
Italian: tensione trazione
Japanese: 緊張
Korean: 긴장
Norwegian: spenning
Polish: napięcie niepokój
European Portuguese: tensão
Romanian: tensiune
Russian: напряжение
Latin American Spanish: tensión ansiedad
Swedish: spänning påfrestning
Thai: ความตึงเครียด
Turkish: gerginlik
Ukrainian: напруга
Vietnamese: tình trạng căng thẳng
All related terms of 'tension'
low-tension
subjected to, carrying , or capable of operating at a low voltage
high tension
A high-tension electricity cable is one which is able to carry a very powerful current .
surface tension
a property of liquids caused by intermolecular forces near the surface leading to the apparent presence of a surface film and to capillarity , etc
creative tension
a situation where disagreement or discord ultimately gives rise to better ideas or outcomes
tension headache
a headache caused by muscle tension resulting from stress or overwork
interfacial tension
Interfacial tension is the tendency of an interface to become spherical to make its surface energy as low as possible .
premenstrual tension
Premenstrual tension is the same as → premenstrual syndrome . The abbreviation → PMT is often used.
vapor pressure
the pressure of a vapor in equilibrium with its liquid or solid form
Chinese translation of 'tension'
tension
(ˈtɛnʃən)
n
(c/u) (of situation) 紧(緊)张(張)的局势(勢) (jǐnzhāng de júshì) (个(個), gè)
(u) (of person) 焦虑(慮) (jiāolǜ)
(u) (between ropes, wires) 张(張)力 (zhānglì)
1 (noun)
Definition
mental or emotional strain
Smiling relieves tension and stress.
Synonyms
strain
the strain of being responsible for the mortgage
stress
nervousness
I smiled in an attempt to hide my nervousness.
pressure
The pressures of modern life are great.
anxiety
His voice was full of anxiety.
unease
He tried to appear casual, but he couldn't conquer his unease.
apprehension
It reflects real anger and apprehension about the future.
suspense
a writer who holds the suspense throughout her tale
restlessness
She complained of hyperactivity and restlessness.
the jitters (informal)
edginess
Opposites
relaxation
,
serenity
,
tranquillity
,
calmness
,
peacefulness
,
restfulness
2 (noun)
Definition
a situation or condition of hostility, suspense, or uneasiness
The tension between the two countries is likely to remain.
Synonyms
friction
There was friction between the children.
hostility
hostility among traditionalists to this method of teaching history
unease
antagonism
There is much antagonism between the two teams.
antipathy
She'd often spoken of her antipathy towards London.
enmity
The two countries erupted into open enmity during the Gulf war.
ill feeling
He bears no ill feeling towards you.
3 (noun)
Definition
a force that stretches or the state or degree of being stretched tight
Slowly, the tension in his face dispersed.
Synonyms
rigidity
tightness
stiffness
pressure
stress
Katy could not think clearly when under stress.
stretching
straining
tautness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of antagonism
Definition
openly expressed hostility
There is much antagonism between the two teams.
Synonyms
hostility,
competition,
opposition,
conflict,
rivalry,
contention,
friction,
discord,
antipathy,
dissension
in the sense of antipathy
Definition
a feeling of strong dislike or hostility
She'd often spoken of her antipathy towards London.
Synonyms
hostility,
opposition,
disgust,
dislike,
hatred,
loathing,
distaste,
animosity,
aversion,
antagonism,
enmity,
rancour,
bad blood,
incompatibility,
ill will,
animus,
repulsion,
abhorrence,
repugnance,
odium (formal),
contrariety
in the sense of anxiety
Definition
a state of uneasiness about what may happen
His voice was full of anxiety.
Synonyms
uneasiness,
concern,
care,
worry,
doubt,
tension,
alarm,
distress,
suspicion,
angst,
unease,
apprehension,
misgiving,
suspense,
nervousness,
disquiet,
trepidation (formal),
foreboding,
restlessness,
solicitude,
perturbation,
watchfulness,
fretfulness,
disquietude,
apprehensiveness,
dubiety
Synonyms of 'tension'
tension
Explore 'tension' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apprehension
Definition
anxiety or dread
It reflects real anger and apprehension about the future.
Synonyms
anxiety,
concern,
fear,
worry,
doubt,
alarm,
suspicion,
dread,
unease,
mistrust,
misgiving,
disquiet,
premonition,
trepidation (formal),
foreboding,
uneasiness,
pins and needles,
apprehensiveness
in the sense of enmity
Definition
a feeling of hostility or ill will
The two countries erupted into open enmity during the Gulf war.
Synonyms
hostility,
hate,
spite,
hatred,
bitterness,
friction,
malice,
animosity,
aversion,
venom,
antagonism,
antipathy,
acrimony,
rancour,
bad blood,
ill will,
animus,
malevolence,
malignity
in the sense of hostility
hostility among traditionalists to this method of teaching history
Synonyms
opposition,
resentment,
antipathy,
aversion,
antagonism,
ill feeling,
bad blood,
ill-will,
animus
in the sense of ill feeling
He bears no ill feeling towards you.
Synonyms
hostility,
resentment,
bitterness,
offence,
indignation,
animosity,
antagonism,
enmity,
rancour,
bad blood,
hard feelings,
ill will,
animus,
dudgeon (archaic),
chip on your shoulder
in the sense of nervousness
I smiled in an attempt to hide my nervousness.
Synonyms
anxiety,
stress,
tension,
strain,
unease,
disquiet,
agitation,
trepidation (formal),
timidity,
excitability,
perturbation,
edginess,
worry,
jumpiness,
antsiness (informal),
fluster,
touchiness,
tremulousness
in the sense of pressure
Definition
urgent claims or demands
The pressures of modern life are great.
Synonyms
stress,
demands,
difficulty,
strain,
press,
heat,
load,
burden,
distress,
hurry,
urgency,
hassle (informal),
uphill (South Africa),
adversity,
affliction,
exigency
in the sense of restlessness
She complained of hyperactivity and restlessness.
Synonyms
restiveness,
anxiety,
disturbance,
nervousness,
disquiet,
agitation,
insomnia,
jitters (informal),
uneasiness,
edginess,
heebie-jeebies (slang),
jumpiness,
fretfulness,
ants in your pants (slang),
fitfulness,
inquietude,
worriedness
in the sense of stress
Definition
mental, emotional, or physical strain or tension
Katy could not think clearly when under stress.
Synonyms
strain,
pressure,
worry,
tension,
burden,
anxiety,
trauma,
oppression,
hassle (informal),
nervous tension
in the sense of suspense
Definition
a state of anxiety or uncertainty
a writer who holds the suspense throughout her tale
Synonyms
uncertainty,
doubt,
tension,
anticipation,
expectation,
anxiety,
insecurity,
expectancy,
apprehension
in the sense of unease
Definition
anxiety or nervousness
He tried to appear casual, but he couldn't conquer his unease.