tension

(noun) (psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense. Synonyms: tenseness, stress. Examples: "He suffered from fatigue and emotional tension." "Stress is a vasoconstrictor."

(noun) the physical condition of being stretched or strained. Synonyms: tensity, tenseness, tautness. Examples: "It places great tension on the leg muscles." "He could feel the tenseness of her body."

(noun) 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."

(noun) (physics) a stress that produces an elongation of an elastic physical body. Example: "The direction of maximum tension moves asymptotically toward the direction of the shear."

(noun) feelings of hostility that are not manifest. Synonyms: latent hostility. Examples: "He could sense her latent hostility to him." "The diplomats' first concern was to reduce international tensions."

(noun) the action of stretching something tight. Example: "Tension holds the belt in the pulleys."