tension Definition

tension
noun

1. An act of stretching, the state of being stretched or the degree to which something is stretched.
2. Mental or emotional strain, excitement or anxiety, usually accompanied by physical symptoms.

Thesaurus: stress, unease, anxiety, nervousness, pressure, edginess, worry, apprehension, suspense.
3. Strained relations or underlying hostility between people or countries, etc.
4. physics.
A force which causes a body to be stretched or elongated.
5. physics.
electromotive force.
6. knitting.
The tightness or looseness of wool as one knits, measured as the number of stitches to the inch.

verb

tensioned, tensioning
1. To give the required tightness or tension to something.

Etymology: 16c: from Latin tensio, from tendere, tensum to stretch.