tensioning
|ten-sion-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈtɛnʃənɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈtɛnʃ(ə)nɪŋ/
(tension)
tightness or strain
Etymology
'tension' originates from Latin, specifically the noun 'tensio', derived from the verb 'tendere', where 'tendere' meant 'to stretch'.
'tension' changed from Latin 'tensio' (and related Old French forms) into Middle English via Anglo-French and eventually became the modern English word 'tension'.
Initially, it meant 'the act of stretching' or 'a stretching', but over time it evolved to include the current senses of 'state of being stretched', 'mental or emotional strain', and technical senses like 'the process of applying tension'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of applying tension; the operation of making something tight or taut (often used in engineering, construction, or rope/cable work).
The tensioning of the bridge cables was carried out overnight to meet safety tolerances.
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Noun 2
the process of prestressing or applying tensile force to tendons/cables in structures (technical/engineering sense).
Tensioning of the tendon system improved the bridge's load-bearing performance.
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Verb 1
present participle or gerund form of 'tension' (to apply tension or make tight).
They are tensioning the guy wires before the storm arrives.
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Last updated: 2025/12/23 08:10