tension

/ˈtɛnʃən/
noun
  1. A feeling of nervousness, worry, or stress.
    • She felt a lot of tension before her final exam.
    • The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
    • Yoga and deep breathing can help relieve tension.
  2. A state of strained relations between people, groups, or countries.
    • The meeting ended with a lot of tension between the manager and the employees.
    • Family tensions often arise during the holidays.
    • There is growing tension between the two neighboring countries over the border dispute.
  3. The state of being stretched tight; the force that pulls or stretches something.
    • The bridge cables are under enormous tension to support the weight of traffic.
    • The tension in the rope kept the tent securely in place.
    • Make sure the guitar strings have the right tension for a clear sound.
  4. The voltage or electrical potential difference in a circuit.
    • Always be careful when working with high tension in electrical systems.
    • The technician measured the tension across the battery terminals.
    • High-tension power lines carry electricity over long distances.
verb
  1. To make something tight or stretched.
    • He tensioned the rope before tying the knot.
    • She tensioned the fabric on the embroidery hoop.
    • The mechanic tensioned the belt to prevent it from slipping.
What does "tension" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean