tension

(tĕnˈshən)

1. a. The act or process of stretching something tight.
   b. The condition of so being stretched; tautness.
2. a. A force tending to stretch or elongate something.
   b. A measure of such a force: a tension on the cable of 50 pounds.
3. a. Mental, emotional, or nervous strain: working under great tension to make a deadline.
   b. Barely controlled hostility or a strained relationship between people or groups: the dangerous tension between opposing military powers.
4. A balanced relation between strongly opposing elements: “the continuing, and essential, tension between two of the three branches of government, judicial and legislative” (Haynes Johnson).
5. The interplay of conflicting elements in a piece of literature, especially a poem.
6. A device for regulating tautness, especially a device that controls the tautness of thread on a sewing machine or loom.
7. Electricity Voltage or potential; electromotive force.

Related Forms:

• tenˈsion·al adjective