(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense; he suffered from fatigue and emotional tension; stress is a vasoconstrictor
the physical condition of being stretched or strained; it places great tension on the leg muscles; he could feel the tenseness of her body
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'
(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'
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 ]
the action of stretching something tight; tension holds the belt in the pulleys'