tension

noun

1. 紧张局势（或关系、状况）
   a situation in which people do not trust each other, or feel unfriendly towards each other, and which may cause them to attack each other
   1. There is mounting tension along the border.
      边境局势日趋紧张。
   2. international/racial/political tensions
      国际紧张局势；种族间的紧张关系；政治上的紧张状况
2. 矛盾；对立
   a situation in which the fact that there are different needs or interests causes difficulties
   1. There is often a tension between the aims of the company and the wishes of the employees.
      公司的目标和雇员的愿望之间经常存在矛盾。
3. （情绪上的）紧张，烦躁
   a feeling of anxiety and stress that makes it impossible to relax
   1. nervous tension
      神经紧张
   2. We laughed and that helped ease the tension .
      我们笑了，因而使紧张的情绪缓和下来。
4. （作家或电影导演制造的）紧张气氛
   the feeling of fear and excitement that is created by a writer or a film/movie director
   1. dramatic tension
      扣人心弦的紧张气氛
   2. As the movie progresses the tension builds.
      随着电影剧情的发展，气氛越来越紧张。
5. 拉伸；张力；拉紧状态；绷紧程度
   the state of being stretched tight; the extent to which sth is stretched tight
   1. muscular tension
      肌肉绷紧
   2. Adjust the string tension of your tennis racket to suit your style of playing.
      调节网球拍的网张力，以配合你的打法。

verb

1. （使金属线、帆等）拉紧，绷紧
   to make a wire, sail, etc. tight and stretched

1. N-UNCOUNT 紧张关系;紧张局势
   Tension is the feeling that is produced in a situation when people are anxious and do not trust each other, and when there is a possibility of sudden violence or conflict.
   1. The tension between the two countries is likely to remain...
      那两个国家间的紧张局面可能会持续下去。
   2. ...continued tension over the killing of demonstrators...
      示威者遇害后的持续紧张局势
   3. The years of his government are remembered for political tension and conflict.
      他执政的那些年留给人们的记忆是政治局势紧张、冲突不断。
2. N-UNCOUNT 紧张;焦虑;焦急
   Tension is a feeling of worry and anxiety which makes it difficult for you to relax.
   1. She has done her best to keep calm but finds herself trembling with tension and indecision...
      她尽力保持镇定，可还是由于紧张、犹豫不决而抖个不停。
   2. Smiling and laughing has actually been shown to relieve tension and stress.
      事实证明，微笑和大笑能够缓解焦虑和压力。
3. N-VAR (势力、观点、影响之间的)冲突，分歧
   If there is a tension between forces, arguments, or influences, there are differences between them that cause difficulties.
   1. The film explored the tension between public duty and personal affections.
      这部电影探讨了公共义务和个人情感之间的冲突。
4. 拉紧程度;拉力;张力
   The tension in something such as a rope or wire is the extent to which it is stretched tight.

1. There is a close connection between pain and tension
   疼痛和紧张之间有着紧密的联系。
2. Acupressure is used to release tension spots in the shoulders and neck.
   指压按摩用于缓解肩部和颈部的紧张。
3. There's still an atmosphere of great hostility and tension in the city.
   强烈的敌对和紧张气氛依然笼罩着这座城市。
4. Tension in the home increases if you bottle things up
   你如果把事情强压在心里，家里的气氛就会更趋紧张。
5. The issue has caused great tension between the two countries and could lead to a military confrontation
   这个问题使得两国关系非常紧张，可能会导致军事对抗。
6. She could have screamed with tension.
   她紧张得差点叫起来。
7. Nina took a kind of dark pleasure in being the focus of the tension between her father and her brother.
   对成了父亲和哥哥紧张关系的焦点，尼娜有点幸灾乐祸。
8. The tension in the room had dissipated
   房间里的紧张气氛消失了。
9. There are many who believe that civil war will be the eventual outcome of the racial tension in the country
   有很多人相信，该国种族关系的紧张最终将导致内战。
10. The move has heightened tension in the state
    该举动加剧了州里的紧张气氛。
11. All great songs are informed by a certain sadness and tension
    所有很棒的歌曲都透着某种悲伤和张力。
12. The tension grew in inverse proportion to the distance from their final destination.
    拉力的大小与他们离终点的距离成反比。
13. There was a knot of tension in his stomach.
    他紧张得心揪得紧紧的。
14. For several hours, tension mounted
    有几个小时，紧张局势有所加剧。
15. It would be useful if you could nail down the source of this tension.
    如果你能弄清这种紧张的根源，将会大有益处。
16. When I get off air around 2am my neck and shoulders are locked with tension
    我凌晨两点结束广播时脖子与肩膀绷得紧紧的。
17. She was aware of tension between them. Or had it been there from the beginning?
    她意识到他们的关系有些紧张。或者一开始就是如此吗？
18. The tension between Amy and Jim is palpable
    埃米和吉姆之间明显关系紧张。
19. Some of the tension Altman builds up starts to sag
    奥尔特曼制造的一些紧张氛围开始缓解。
20. The province was attacked a month ago after weeks of simmering tension.
    在紧张局势连续数周恶化后，这个省于一个月前遭到了袭击。
21. All mothers share to some extent in the tension of a wedding
    从某种程度上说，所有的母亲在婚礼上多少都有点紧张。
22. The tension was naturally high for a game with so much at stake
    对于一场成败攸关的比赛来说气氛自然非常紧张。
23. He said senior government officials were trying to stir up ethnic tension
    他说政府高级官员们正在试图挑起紧张的种族局势。
24. The tension between the two countries is likely to remain
    那两个国家间的紧张局面可能会持续下去。
25. She has done her best to keep calm but finds herself trembling with tension and indecision
    她尽力保持镇定，可还是由于紧张、犹豫不决而抖个不停。
26. Smiling and laughing has actually been shown to relieve tension and stress.
    事实证明，微笑和大笑能够缓解焦虑和压力。
27. The film explored the tension between public duty and personal affections.
    这部电影探讨了公共义务和个人情感之间的冲突。
28. There's tremendous tension between the local population and the refugees
    当地居民与难民之间关系非常紧张。
29. It is as well to bear in mind that laughter is a great releaser of tension.
    你最好记住大笑是消除紧张情绪的良方。

  tension pressure strain stress【导航词义：紧张，压力】

  tension n. 紧张，紧张状态；绷紧

〔辨析〕主要指精神、心理上的紧张，也指人与人或国与国之间的紧张关系，或某物被过度拉伸的程度或状态。

  pressure n. 压力

〔辨析〕多指由气体或液体产生的压力，或某事物所产生的压力或影响力，包括工作或生活中的压力。

  strain n. 压力；紧张

〔辨析〕指物体所承受的张力或拉力，也指因外界压力而造成的身心和情绪等方面的焦虑或压抑。

  stress n. 压力

〔辨析〕指施加于物体、能使其损坏或变形的压力或应力；也指精神压力或心理负担，侧重于一种长期的忧虑。

noun

1. the action of stretching something tight
   1. tension holds the belt in the pulleys

2. (physics) a stress that produces an elongation of an elastic physical body
   1. the direction of maximum tension moves asymptotically toward the direction of the shear

3. feelings of hostility that are not manifest
   1. he could sense her latent hostility to him
   2. the diplomats' first concern was to reduce international tensions

   Synonym:    latent hostility

4. a balance between and interplay of opposing elements or tendencies (especially in art or literature)
   1. there is a tension created between narrative time and movie time
   2. there is a tension between these approaches to understanding history

5. (psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
   1. he suffered from fatigue and emotional tension
   2. stress is a vasoconstrictor

   Synonym:    tensenessstress

6. the physical condition of being stretched or strained
   1. it places great tension on the leg muscles
   2. he could feel the tenseness of her body

   Synonym:    tensitytensenesstautness