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[ UK /tˈɛnʃən/ ]
[ US /ˈtɛnʃən/ ]
NOUN
  1. feelings of hostility that are not manifest
    he could sense her latent hostility to him
    the diplomats' first concern was to reduce international tensions
  2. a balance between and interplay of opposing elements or tendencies (especially in art or literature)
    there is a tension between these approaches to understanding history
    there is a tension created between narrative time and movie time
  3. (psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
    stress is a vasoconstrictor
    he suffered from fatigue and emotional tension
  4. the physical condition of being stretched or strained
    it places great tension on the leg muscles
    he could feel the tenseness of her body
  5. (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
  6. the action of stretching something tight
    tension holds the belt in the pulleys

How To Use tension In A Sentence

  • 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.
  • And there are a lot of so-called federalists, people who are just generally opposed to the extension of federal power and who object, who say look, this is the same thing that we objected to when liberals did it. CNN Transcript Mar 24, 2005
  • A couple of examples from my own experience at FDA with the review of biopharmaceuticals will illustrate the tension between the regulatory culture and innovation.
  • The shooting inflamed ethnic tensions.
  • The main superstructure frame is formed from reinforced concrete with post-tensioned, ribbed slab floors.
  • Station improvements are being considered for Shenfield while Gidea Park, Harold Wood and Brentwood are in line for platform extensions and station revamps.
  • The couples agreed on a discreet slate-tiled mansard roof extension that gave each house an additional 30sq m of floor space. Times, Sunday Times
  • Overextension in the lower back results in this 'duck-like' posture. Times, Sunday Times
  • The attractive forces between molecules in a liquid are called surface tension forces and are what hold the liquid together.
  • The Orangery restaurant is not as gorgeous as the rest of the house, partly because it is in a modern extension, but mainly because it is unattractively lit.
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