tension

Definitions of tension in various dictionaries:

noun - (psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense

noun - the physical condition of being stretched or strained

noun - a balance between and interplay of opposing elements or tendencies (especially in art or literature)

noun - (physics) a stress that produces an elongation of an elastic physical body

noun - feelings of hostility that are not manifest

noun - the action of stretching something tight

The act or process of stretching something tight.

The condition of so being stretched; tautness.

A force tending to stretch or elongate something.

A measure of such a force: a tension on the cable of 50 pounds.

The interplay of conflicting elements in a piece of literature, especially a poem.

Mental, emotional, or nervous strain: working under great tension to make a deadline.

Barely controlled hostility or a strained relationship between people or groups: the dangerous tension between opposing military powers.

Uneasy suspense: a comic scene that relieved the tension of the drama.

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).

A device for regulating tautness, especially a device that controls the tautness of thread on a sewing machine or loom.

Electricity.

adj - fully stretched, so as not to be slack

verb - to bring together in intricate confusion