tensions

1. (psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspenseExamples: "he suffered from fatigue and emotional tension"; "stress is a vasoconstrictor"Synonyms: stress, tenseness, tension

2. the physical condition of being stretched or strainedExamples: "it places great tension on the leg muscles"; "he could feel the tenseness of her body"Synonyms: tautness, tenseness, tension, tensity

3. a balance between and interplay of opposing elements or tendencies (especially in art or literature)Examples: "there is a tension created between narrative time and movie time"; "there is a tension between these approaches to understanding history"Synonyms: tension

4. (physics) a stress that produces an elongation of an elastic physical bodyExamples: "the direction of maximum tension moves asymptotically toward the direction of the shear"Synonyms: tension

5. feelings of hostility that are not manifestExamples: "he could sense her latent hostility to him"; "the diplomats' first concern was to reduce international tensions"Synonyms: latent hostility, tension

6. the action of stretching something tightExamples: "tension holds the belt in the pulleys"Synonyms: tension