tension
/ˈtɛnʃ(ə)n
/noun [mass noun]
1The state of being stretched tight: the parachute keeps the cable under tension as it drops...
- The competing forces of gravity at the lower end and outward centripetal acceleration at the farther end keep the cable under tension.
- In string theory, as in guitar playing, the string must be stretched under tension in order to become excited.
- I then dial in the cable tension so it lets the chain drop easily to the inner ring and not rub on the cage when on the largest cog.
Synonyms
tightness, tautness, tenseness, rigidity;
pull, traction, stress, strain, straining, stretching
rare tensity
1.1The state of having the muscles stretched tight, especially as causing strain or discomfort: the elimination of neck tension can relieve headaches...
- Participants were taught to perform the techniques independently from the fifth week and to avoid unnecessary tension in the neck muscles.
- One-minute breaks every 20 minutes or so can help relieve tension and loosen stiff muscles.
- During a massage, your practitioner kneads your skin, muscles and tendons in an effort to relieve muscle tension and stress and promote relaxation.
1.2A strained state or condition resulting from forces acting in opposition to each other: enormous tension can build up along the margin of the two plates and occasionally explodes into immense earthquakes...
- The water going down your plughole, the planets going around the sun, the electrons spinning around a nucleus, they all reflect the same dynamic tension between opposing forces.
- An answer was provided by inflation: the idea that the universe was born in a state of tension, forcing it to expand enormously fast.
- Controlling the oil in the crankcase significantly reduces ring tension to unlock even more power by minimizing friction.
1.3The degree of tightness of stitches in knitting and machine sewing.Test on fabric scraps for the best tension and stitch length....
- Uneven stitches usually indicate the tension is out of balance.
- Observe the stitch, adjusting the tension until the stitch is formed correctly.
1.4Electromotive force.Tsagas found that the magnetic tension in bent magnetic field lines tends to flatten the surrounding space....
- Researchers believe this tension results in stripes that are stable under magnetic fields of a certain strength.
- It's the electromagnetic tension field, not the power that stand for the interdimensional interaction.
2Mental or emotional strain: a mind which is affected by stress or tension cannot think as clearly...
- Mental tension and physical stress are not needed when you are vulnerable and sensitive to pressures of any kind.
- Motherwort is reputed to release tension caused by emotional and mental stress.
- You need to avoid mental tension and stress as they can manifest health problems.
Synonyms
mental/emotional strain, stress, anxiety, anxiousness, pressure;
worry, apprehensiveness, apprehension, agitation, nerves, nervousness, jumpiness, edginess, restlessness;
suspense, uncertainty, anticipation, excitement
informal butterflies (in one's stomach), collywobbles, jitteriness, twitchiness, the jitters, the willies, the heebie-jeebies, the shakes, the jumps, jim-jams, the yips
British informal the (screaming) abdabs/habdabs
Australian rhyming slang Joe Blakes
2.1A strained political or social state or relationship: the coup followed months of tension between the military and the government [count noun]: racial tensions...
- When food and fuel subsidies go, people riot and social tensions stoke the flames.
- This has already had the effect of increasing tensions and is fomenting political hatred.
- As a result there were tensions in the relationship, which involved regular arguments.
Synonyms
strained relations, strain, unease;
ill feeling, friction, antagonism, antipathy, hostility, enmity
2.2A relationship between ideas or qualities with conflicting demands or implications: the basic tension between freedom and control...
- There has often been tension between conflicting ideas about the scope of EU competence and the policy-making process.
- There is a basic tension between the idea of the rule of law and other aspects of the Constitution which still reflect an alternative principle that the law must serve the party state.
- Herein lies the primary tension between the two conflicting and apparently contradictory trends regarding immigration throughout the west.
verb [with object]
Apply a force to (something) which tends to stretch it: it is best to insert the battens before the outhaul is tensioned (as noun tensioning) the final part of assembly is the bow tensioning...
- Concrete can be prestressed in a factory by tensioning the steel reinforcement first and then placing concrete around it - ‘pre-tensioned’ reinforcement.
- This is so the tendons pick up the deflection caused by the weight of the concrete when they are tensioned.
- Gable end facade hanger cables are tensioned against the main roof cables, above top left.
Derivatives
tensional
- The potential energy of an uplift produces tensional stresses which can lead to gravity-driven extensional collapse.
- It may be that incorrect or confusing early experiences have interfered with their ability to recognize hunger and satiation, resulting in their inability to differentiate hunger from other tensional states.
- The spindle fiber organs determine the resting tensional length of the muscle, acting as a ‘thermostat’ for tension within the muscle.
tensionally
- The Leonardo sketch of one of his hang gliders had a tensionally hung standing pilot with a triangle control bar.
- The harness member can be tensionally adjusted to the height and girth of the user.
- It should be noted, however, that Fielder and I only concluded that the lunar surface was tensionally stressed at the time when certain lunar craters were formed.
tensioner
- If the vehicle rolls, the car triggers the side airbags and seat belt tensioners to help protect occupants.
- When his Fiat's cam-belt tensioner began giving problems he solved it - for a time - with the help of an old shopping trolley wheel.
- In order to prevent the pipe buckling at the sagbend a horizontal tension was applied to the pipe by tensioners situated on the deck of the vessel.
tensionless
- While getting tensionless, deep and well relaxed sleep, the individual can produce more and feel great doing it.
- After the formation of the bilayer we allowed the bilayer to adopt a tensionless configuration by applying both DPD and Monte Carlo, in which the area of the bilayer is changed.
Origin
Mid 16th century (as a medical term denoting a condition or feeling of being physically stretched or strained): from French, or from Latin tensio(n-), from tendere 'stretch'.