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😬 Nervous feeling 🪢 Tightness ⚖️ Opposing forces 🔧 To make tight
to tension

to tension

1 4.4
To make something tight by pulling it
  • verb
  • /ˈtɛnʃən/
translation icon : tensar
  • We can't tension this particular situation sufficiently.

First of all, I'm dying to know how this cloth is tensioned.

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Examples

  • Before the race, he tensioned the bowstring to prepare it for shooting.

  • You use that to tension it so the top is, well, tense.

  • This screw was in here tensioning that all together took that out.

  • I can't tension this time sufficiently.

    Blog text (20)

  • After proper placement, the straps were tensioned to 44.5 N (10 lbs), except for elastic straps, which were hand-tightened.

    Academic text (1995)

  • You need to tension the cable to ensure it stays securely in place.

  • To improve the sound quality, make sure to tension the guitar strings correctly.

Synonyms

to tighten
vsto tension
145 1.5

To make something hold firmly, like a bolt or belt

focuses on the same tightening action but as a general change
to firm
vsto tension
16 4.0

Make or become tighter and more solid

is specifically about creating tightness by stretching or pulling
to tense
vsto tension
9 4.0

To make the body or muscles tight and unable to relax

refers only to physically making something tight by stretching or pulling
to cinch
vsto tension
8 5.5

To fasten a strap tightly so it does not slip

describes making tight by stretching rather than fastening with a strap
to pull taut
vsto tension
1 4.4

To make a rope or cord tight by stretching it so it is not loose

is a general act of making something tight by stretching
to tauten
vsto tension
6.2

To pull something like a rope until it becomes tight or to become tight

is the broader action of creating tightness by pulling or stretching

Antonyms

to loosen
88 1.0

Make something less tight so it can move or open

Phrasal Verbs

to defuse tension
2 4.5

To make a situation less tense by calming people

to relieve muscle tension
3.7

To make muscles feel less tight or stiff

Compounds

racial tension
17 5.6

Angry feelings and conflict between people of different races

surface tension
  • Specialized
5 4.3

A force that makes a liquid surface pull together like a skin

high-tension
  • UK
3 6.7

Able to carry a lot of electricity at high voltage

tension pneumo
  • Specialized
3 8.6

Air trapped under pressure in the chest that can collapse a lung and press the heart

tension headache
1 3.1

Mild to moderate pain at the back of the head or neck caused by stress and tight muscles

palpable tension
1 5.4

A strong sense of nervousness that people can clearly notice

low-tension
  • UK
6.0

An electrical wire or system that uses low voltage

miasma of tension
9.9

A heavy feeling of anxiety that fills a room

high-tension environment
6.5

A situation with a lot of stress and worry that makes people feel under pressure

high-tension meeting
6.3

A meeting where people feel strong pressure and stress

high-tension situation
5.5

A situation that feels tense and stressful and needs careful handling

interfacial surface tension
  • Specialized
7.4

A pull at the surface between two liquids that do not mix, like oil and water

interfacial tension
  • Specialized
8.7

The force at the surface between two liquids that do not mix, like oil and water

normal tension glaucoma
  • Specialized
4.5

A disease that damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss even with normal eye pressure

tension ring
  • Offensive
7.5

A ring that you put at the base of the penis to help it stay hard by reducing blood flow

tinderbox of tension
  • Literature
9.3

A situation likely to suddenly become violent or start a fight

undercurrent of tension
7.2

A quiet feeling of worry or anger that people do not show

How Tight

to tighten
145 1.5
to tension
1 4.4
to stretch
285 1.0
to loosen
88 1.0

Surface Forms

tension infinitive
tensed past
tensed past participle
tensioning present participle
tensions third person singular

Etymology

Tension as a verb comes from Latin tendere 'to stretch'. To tension something is to pull or tighten it so it becomes 'tight', like when engineers tighten bridge cables.