Tension \Ten"sion\, n. [L. tensio, from tendere, tensum, to
stretch: cf. F. tension. See Tense, a.]
1. 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]
2. Fig.: Extreme strain of mind or excitement of feeling;
intense effort.
[1913 Webster]
3. 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]
4. (Mech.) 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]
5. 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]
6. (Physics) 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]
7. (Elec.) 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.
[1913 Webster]
Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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156 Moby Thesaurus words for "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
Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
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Tension \Ten"sion\, n. [L. tensio, from tendere, tensum, to
stretch: cf. F. tension. See Tense, a.]
1. 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.
2. Fig.: Extreme strain of mind or excitement of feeling;
intense effort.
3. 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.
4. (Mech.) 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.
5. A device for checking the delivery of the thread in a
sewing machine, so as to give the stitch the required
degree of tightness.
6. (Physics) 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.
7. (Elec.) 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.
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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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