n. & v.
--n.
1. the act or an instance of stretching; the state of being stretched; tenseness.
2 mental strain or excitement.
3 a strained (political, social, etc.) state or relationship.
4 Mech. the stress by which a bar, cord, etc. is pulled when it is part of a system in equilibrium or motion.
5 electromagnetic force (high tension; low tension).
--v.tr. subject to tension.
Derivatives:
tensional adj. tensionally adv. tensionless adj.
Etymology: F tension or L tensio (as TEND(1))