The act of
stretching or straining; the state of being stretched or strained to
stiffness; the state of being bent strained; as, the tension of the
muscles, tension of the larynx.
Fig.: Extreme strain of mind or excitement of
feeling; intense effort.
The degree of stretching to which a wire, cord,
piece of timber, or the like, is strained by drawing it in the direction of
its length; strain.
The force by which a part is
pulled when forming part of any system in equilibrium or in motion; as, the
tension of a srting supporting a weight equals that
weight.
A device for checking the delivery of the thread
in a sewing machine, so as to give the stitch the required degree of
tightness.
Expansive force; the force with
which the particles of a body, as a gas, tend to recede from each other and
occupy a larger space; elastic force; elasticity; as, the tension of
vapor; the tension of air.
The quality in consequence of
which an electric charge tends to discharge itself, as into the air by a
spark, or to pass from a body of greater to one of less electrical
potential. It varies as the quantity of electricity upon a given
area.
In celebration of Noah Webster's Birthday (October 16, 2009), we have prepared an updated website. 
