Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Tension"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Vapor pressure \Vapor pressure\ or tension \tension\ . (Physics)
The pressure or tension of a confined body of vapor. The
pressure of a given saturated vapor is a function of the
temperature only, and may be measured by introducing a small
quantity of the substance into a barometer and noting the
depression of the column of mercury.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
tension
n 1: feelings of hostility that are not manifest; "he could sense
her latent hostility to him"; "the diplomats' first
concern was to reduce international tensions" [syn: {latent
hostility}]
2: a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense; "he
suffered from fatigue and emotional tension"; "stress is a
vasoconstrictor" [syn: {tenseness}, {stress}]
3: the physical condition of being stretched or strained; "it
places great tension on the leg muscles"; "he could feel
the tenseness of her body" [syn: {tensity}, {tenseness}, {tautness}]
4: a balance between and interplay of opposing elements or
tendencies (especially in art or literature); "there is a
tension created between narrative time and movie time";
"there is a tension between these approaches to
understanding history"
5: (physics) a stress that produces an elongation of an elastic
physical body; "the direction of maximum tension moves
asymptotically toward the direction of the shear"
6: the action of stretching something tight; "tension holds the
belt in the pulleys"
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