Ten"sion (?), n. [L. tensio, from
tendere, tensum, to stretch: cf. F. tension. See
Tense, a.] 1. 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.
2. Fig.: Extreme strain of mind or excitement of
feeling; intense effort.
3. 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. Gwilt.
4. (Mech.) 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.
5. A device for checking the delivery of the thread
in a sewing machine, so as to give the stitch the required degree of
tightness.
6. (Physics) 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.
7. (Elec.) 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.
Tension brace, or Tension member
(Engin.), a brace or member designed to resist tension, or
subjected to tension, in a structure. -- Tension rod
(Engin.), an iron rod used as a tension member to strengthen
timber or metal framework, roofs, or the like.
{ Vapor pressure or tension }. (Physics)
The pressure or tension of a confined body of vapor. The pressure
of a given saturated vapor is a function of the temperature only, and
may be measured by introducing a small quantity of the substance into
a barometer and noting the depression of the column of
mercury.
Ten"sion (?), n. [L. tensio, from
tendere, tensum, to stretch: cf. F. tension. See
Tense, a.] 1. 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.
2. Fig.: Extreme strain of mind or excitement of
feeling; intense effort.
3. 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. Gwilt.
4. (Mech.) 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.
5. A device for checking the delivery of the thread
in a sewing machine, so as to give the stitch the required degree of
tightness.
6. (Physics) 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.
7. (Elec.) 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.
Tension brace, or Tension member
(Engin.), a brace or member designed to resist tension, or
subjected to tension, in a structure. -- Tension rod
(Engin.), an iron rod used as a tension member to strengthen
timber or metal framework, roofs, or the like.
{ Vapor pressure or tension }. (Physics)
The pressure or tension of a confined body of vapor. The pressure
of a given saturated vapor is a function of the temperature only, and
may be measured by introducing a small quantity of the substance into
a barometer and noting the depression of the column of
mercury.
