World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesTension
/ˈtɛn.ʃən/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
The state of being stretched tight; mental or emotional strain.
"You could cut the tension in the room with a knife as they awaited the final election results." - 2
A strained relationship between individuals, groups, or nations.
"Diplomatic efforts are underway to ease political tension along the border."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'tensio' (a stretching), from 'tensus', past participle of 'tendere' (to stretch). Entering Middle English in the 15th century via Old French, it initially denoted physical stretching before expanding metaphorically to psychological strain and social friction by the 17th and 19th centuries.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Tension" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
tension
Transliteration: tɑ̃.sjɔ̃
"La tension dans la pièce était palpable."
Spannung
Transliteration: ˈʃpanʊŋ
"Die Spannung im Raum war greifbar."
tensione
Transliteration: /tenˈsjo.ne/
"La tensione nella stanza si poteva tagliare con il coltello."
tensión
Transliteration: /tenˈsjon/
"Se podía cortar la tensión en el ambiente con un cuchillo."
tensão
Transliteration: /tẽˈsɐ̃w/
"A tensão na sala podia ser cortada com uma faca."
तनाव
Transliteration: tanāv
"कमरे में तनाव इतना था कि उसे चाकू से काटा जा सके।"
紧张
Transliteration: jǐnzhāng
"房间里的气氛紧张得令人窒息。"
긴장
Transliteration: ginjang
"방 안의 긴장감이 감돌았다."
緊張
Transliteration: kinchō
"部屋の中の緊張感はナイフで切れそうだった。"
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