tension

Everyday

1. Tension is a feeling of worry or nervousness, when people are stressed or not getting on. tree →
2. In science, tension is the pulling force in a rope, string or wire when it is stretched tight. tree →
3. Tension is tightness, like in a muscle. tree →
4. In stories, tension is the exciting feeling that something is about to happen. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on forces, a rope pulling an object has tension; surface tension lets insects stand on water. In English lessons writers build tension to make readers want to read on. In everyday life there can be tension between friends or in a family. Phrases: build tension, surface tension, tension in the air.

Examples

• There was tension in the room before the results were read out. tree →
• The tension in the rope held the boat. tree →
• Surface tension lets a pond skater walk on water. tree →
• The writer builds tension with short sentences. tree →
• Stretching helps to ease tension in your neck. tree →
• There was some tension between the two teams. tree →
• Tighten the string to increase the tension. tree →

Note

Mostly uncountable; «tensions» is used for disagreements between groups. Related: tense (adjective), tensely. In physics tension is a force, measured in newtons like other forces.