tension

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ten=sion

CIDE DICTIONARY

tension, n. [L. tensio, from tendere, tensum, to stretch: cf. F. tension. See Tense, 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.  [1913 Webster]
•  Fig.: Extreme strain of mind or excitement of feeling; intense effort.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  A device for checking the delivery of the thread in a sewing machine, so as to give the stitch the required degree of tightness.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

Tension brace, or 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.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

tension, n. & v.
--n.
1 the act or an instance of stretching; the state of being stretched; tenseness.
2 mental strain or excitement.
3 a strained (political, social, etc.) state or relationship.
4 Mech. the stress by which a bar, cord, etc. is pulled when it is part of a system in equilibrium or motion.
5 electromagnetic force (high tension; low tension).
--v.tr. subject to tension.

Derivative

tensional adj. tensionally adv. tensionless adj.

Etymology

F tension or L tensio (as TEND(1))

THESAURUS

tension

Discordia, Eris, agitation, all-overs, angst, anxiety, anxiety hysteria, anxiety neurosis, anxious bench, anxious concern, anxious seat, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, bloat, bloating, breaking point, cankerworm of care, care, chill, chilliness, clash, clashing, clutch, coldness, concern, concernment, conflict, contention, coolness, crisis, crunch, disaccord, disaffinity, discomfort, discord, discordance, discordancy, disharmony, disquiet, disquietude, distension, distress, disturbance, dread, edginess, elongation, emergency, enmity, exigency, extension, extreme tension, fear, fidgetiness, firmness, force, foreboding, forebodingness, friction, frost, haul, heave, high pressure, iciness, imperativeness, incompatibility, incompatibleness, inflation, inharmoniousness, inharmony, inhospitality, inimicality, inquietude, jangle, jar, jitteriness, jumpiness, lengthening, malaise, mental strain, mischief, misgiving, nerves, nervous strain, nervous tension, nervousness, noncooperation, open conflict, overanxiety, overdistension, overdrawing, overexertion, overexpansion, overextension, overstrain, overstraining, overstress, overstretching, overtaxing, personal conflict, perturbation, pinch, pins and needles, press, pressure, production, prolongation, protraction, pucker, pull, rack, renitence, renitency, rigidity, rigidness, rigor, rub, snapping point, solicitude, starchiness, stew, stiffness, strain, strained relations, straining, stress, stress and strain, stressfulness, stretch, stretching, stringing out, suspense, swelling, tautness, taxing, tenseness, tensity, tightness, traction, trouble, tug, unamiability, uncordiality, unease, uneasiness, unfriendliness, ungeniality, unharmoniousness, unpleasantness, unquietness, unsociability, upset, urgency, vexation, worry, zeal

ROGET THESAURUS

tension

Strength

N strength, power, energy, vigor, force, main force, physical force, brute force, spring, elasticity, tone, tension, tonicity, stoutness, lustihood, stamina, nerve, muscle, sinew, thews and sinews, physique, pith, pithiness, virtility, vitality, athletics, athleticism, gymnastics, feats of strength, adamant, steel, iron, oak, heart of oak, iron grip, grit, bone, athlete, gymnast, acrobat, superman, Atlas, Hercules, Antaeus, Samson, Cyclops, Goliath, tower of strength, giant refreshed, strengthening, invigoration, refreshment, refocillation, dynamics, statics, strong, mighty, vigorous, forcible, hard, adamantine, stout, robust, sturdy, hardy, powerful, potent, puissant, valid, resistless, irresistible, invincible, proof against, impregnable, unconquerable, indomitable, dominating, inextinguishable, unquenchable, incontestable, more than a match for, overpowering, overwhelming, all powerful, all sufficient, sovereign, able-bodied, athletic, Herculean, Cyclopean, Atlantean, muscular, brawny, wiry, well-knit, broad-shouldered, sinewy, strapping, stalwart, gigantic, manly, man-like, manful, masculine, male, virile, unweakened, unallayed, unwithered, unshaken, unworn, unexhausted, in full force, in full swing, in the plenitude of power, stubborn, thick-ribbed, made of iron, deep-rooted, strong as a lion, strong as a horse, strong as an ox, strong as brandy, sound as a roach, in fine feather, in high feather, built like a brick shithouse, like a giant refreshed, strongly, by force, by main force, our withers are unwrung, Blut und Eisen, coelitus mihi vires, du fort au diable, en habiles gens, ex vi termini, flecti non frangi, he that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves an, inflexible in faith invincible in arms.

Excitation

N excitation of feeling, mental excitement, suscitation, galvanism, stimulation, piquance, piquancy, provocation, inspiration, calling forth, infection, animation, agitation, perturbation, subjugation, fascination, intoxication, enravishment, entrancement, pressure, tension, high pressure, unction, impressiveness, trail of temper, casus belli, irritation, passion, thrill, repression of feeling, sensationalism, yellow journalism, excited, wrought up, up the qui vive, astir, sparkling, in a quiver, in a fever, in a ferment, in a blaze, in a state of excitement, in hysterics, black in the face, overwrought, tense, taught, on a razor's edge, hot, red-hot, flushed, feverish, all of a twitter, in a pucker, with quivering lips, with tears in one's eyes, flaming, boiling over, ebullient, seething, foaming at the mouth, fuming, raging, carried away by passion, wild, raving, frantic, mad, distracted, beside oneself, out of one's wits, ready to burst, bouleverse, demoniacal, lost, eperdu, tempest-tossed, haggard, ready to sink, stung to the quick, up, on one's high ropes, exciting, absorbing, riveting, distracting, impressive, warm, glowing, fervid, swelling, imposing, spirit-stirring, thrilling, high-wrought, soul-stirring, soul-subduing, heart-stirring, heart- swelling, heart-thrilling, agonizing, telling, sensational, hysterical, overpowering, overwhelming, more than flesh and blood can bear, yellow, piquant, spicy, appetizing, provocative, provoquant, tantalizing, eager to go, anxious to go, chafing at the bit, till one is black in the face, the heart beating high, the heart going pitapat, the heart leaping into one's mouth, the blood being up, the blood boiling in one's veins, the eye glistening, the eyes in a fine frenzy rolling, the head turned, when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Length

N length, longitude, span, mileage, distance, line, bar, rule, stripe, streak, spoke, radius, lengthening, prolongation, production, protraction, tension, tensure, extension, line, nail, inch, hand, palm, foot, cubit, yard, ell, fathom, rood, pole, furlong, mile, league, chain, link, arpent, handbreadth, jornada, kos, vara, astronomical unit, AU, light- year, parsec, nanometer, nm, micron, micrometer, millimicron, millimeter, mm, centimeter, cm, meter, kilometer, km, pedometer, perambulator, scale, long, longsome, lengthy, wiredrawn, outstretched, lengthened, sesquipedalian, interminable, no end of, macrocolous, linear, lineal, longitudinal, oblong, as long as my arm, as long as today and tomorrow, unshortened &c (shorten), lengthwise, at length, longitudinally, endlong, along, tandem, in a line, in perspective, from end to end, from stem to stern, from head to foot, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, from top to toe, fore and aft.