Definition of: tension

(ten′shən) noun
1. The act of stretching; the condition of being stretched tight.
2. Mental strain; intense nervous anxiety.
3. Any strained relation, as between governments.
4. Physics a Stress on a material caused by pulling: opposed to compression, and distinguished from torsion. b The condition of a body when acted on by such stress.
5. The expansive force of a gas.
6. A regulating device, as that on a sewing machine to regulate the tightness of the thread.
7. Electr. Electromotive force; also, electric potential. [<L tensio, -onis <tensus. See TENSE¹.]
—ten′·sion·al adjective