tension

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noun

The act, condition, or effect of exerting force on someone or something: pressure, strain¹, stress. See push/pull.

n

Definition: mental stress
Antonyms: calmness, contentedness, ease, peace, relaxation

n

Definition: tightness
Antonyms: limpness, looseness, relaxation, slack

The state or condition of being pulled or stretched.

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1. The state of an object being pulled or stretched. Tension is created by a pulling or stretching force (the tensile force) directed axially through an object. The distribution of tension within an object is called tensile stress and it is usually measured as the force per unit area exerted by a stretched material on a support.

2. An overt muscular contraction caused by an emotional state or an increased effort. See also stress.

The artistically satisfying equilibrium of opposing forces in a poem, usually referring to the use of language and imagery, but often applied to other elements, such as dramatic structure, rhythmic patterns, and sometimes to the æsthetic value of the poem as a whole.

IN BRIEF: Nervous strain; anxious feeling. Also: Voltage, or electric force.

We who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. — Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

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Quotes:

"Some tension is necessary for the soul to grow, and we can put that tension to good use. We can look for every opportunity to give and receive love, to appreciate nature, to heal our wounds and the wounds of others, to forgive, and to serve." - Joan Borysenko

1. the concentration of a gas expressed as the partial pressure of the gas.
2. the force exerted by stretching any material.
3. voltage, electromagnetic force, or potential difference, as in high tension, low tension.

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1. the act of stretching or the condition of being stretched or strained.
2. the partial pressure of a component of a gas mixture or of a gas dissolved in a fluid, e.g. of oxygen in blood.
3. voltage.

• arterial t. — blood pressure within an artery.
• t. band wires — heavy gauge wire is inserted in fracture fragments and around pins placed in the fragments in order and adjusted to create compression on the fracture site. Suited for treatment of apophyseal or epiphyseal avulsion fractures. See also tension band plate.
• intraocular t. — intraocular pressure; intraocular tension, normal intraocular tension being indicated by Tn, while T + 1, T + 2, etc. indicate increased tension, and T − 1, T − 2, etc. indicate decreased tension.
• t. line — the direction of pull on the skin in any given region. A map of the body, drawn to show the various lines of pull, or tension, is useful in planning surgical closure of skin incisions, particularly ones with defects, in order to minimize forces that might cause dehiscence.
• surface t. — tension or resistance that acts to preserve the integrity of a surface.
• tissue t. — a state of equilibrium between tissues and cells that prevents overaction of any part.

(ten′shən)
n

The state of being stretched, strained, or extended.

For a list of words related to tension, see:

• Processes, Phenomena, Events, and Techniques - tension: stretching stress that tends to increase volume of a material

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See words rhyming with "tensional."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Tension.

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - spænding, strækning, trækkraft
v. tr. - spænde, strække

Nederlands (Dutch)
spanning, geladenheid, spankracht

Français (French)
n. - tension, (Phys) tension, tension (nerveuse), relation tendue, (Électron) tension, (Génie Civ, Mécan) tension, (force) de traction, situation d'attente angoissée, tendeur
v. tr. - tendre (un câble, un muscle)

Deutsch (German)
n. - Spannung, Anspannung, Festigkeit, Dehnung
v. - anspannen, dehnen

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - ένταση, υπερένταση, τσίτωμα, (ηλεκτρ.) τάση, βολτάζ, τέντωμα, τεζάρισμα, (φυσιολ.) τάση

idioms:

• high tension    (ηλεκτρ.) υψηλή τάση, (μτφ.) ένταση

Italiano (Italian)
tensione, pressione, estensione

Português (Portuguese)
n. - tensão (f), ansiedade (f), força (f) eletromotriz, animosidade (f)

Русский (Russian)
напряжение, напряженность, (об отношениях) трения, натянутость, неловкость, (эл.) напряжение, (спец.) растягивающее усилие, растяжение, натяжение, тяга, растяжка, (физ.) упругость, давление (газа)

Español (Spanish)
n. - tensión, tracción, nerviosismo, tirantez
v. tr. - tensar

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - spänning, anspänning, sträckning, spändhet

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
紧张, 拉紧, 不安, 使紧张

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 緊張, 拉緊, 不安
v. tr. - 拉緊, 使緊張

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 긴장 , 긴박, 압력
v. tr. - 팽팽하게 하다, 긴장시키다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 緊張, 伸張, 切迫, 張力, 圧力, 引っ張り装置, 電圧, 電位
v. - 張力をかける, ピンと張る

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) توتر, شد‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮מתח, מתיחה, לחץ-משיכה, מתיחות, התרגשות, מתח (חשמלי)‬
v. tr. - ‮מתח, יצר מתח‬

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