TENSION

Tension

In physics, tension is the pulling force exerted by a string, cable, chain, or similar solid object on another object. It results from the net electrostatic attraction between the particles in a solid when it is deformed so that the particles are further apart from each other than when at equilibrium, where this force is balanced by repulsion due to electron shells; as such, it is the pull exerted by a solid trying to restore its original, more compressed shape. Tension is the opposite of compression. Slackening is the reduction of tension.

The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Tension (physics)
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

tension

Noun

  1. Psychological state of being tense.
  2. Condition of being held in a state between two or more forces, which are acting in opposition to each other
  3. State of an elastic object which is stretched in a way which increases its length.
  4. Force transmitted through a rope, string, cable, or similar object (used with prepositions on, in, or of, e.g., "The tension in the cable is 1000 N", to convey that the same magnitude of force applies to objects attached to both ends).
  5. Voltage. Usually only the terms low tension, high tension, and extra-high tension, and the abbreviations LT, HT, and EHT are used. They are not precisely defined; LT is normally a few volts, HT a few hundreds of volts, and EHT thousands of volts.

Verb

  1. To place an object in tension, to pull or place strain on.
    We tensioned the cable until it snapped.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: tension
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

Need help with a clue?
Try your search in the crossword dictionary!