tension
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++ten·sion /ˈtenʃən/ ●●○ W3 AWL noun 1 nervous feeling 紧张的感觉 [uncountable]NERVOUSWORRIED a nervous worried feeling that makes it impossible for you to relax 紧张；焦虑；焦急 → tense The tension was becoming unbearable, and I wanted to scream. 这种紧张变得难以忍受，我真想大声尖叫。reduce/relieve/ease etc tension Exercise is the ideal way to relieve tension after a hard day. 运动锻炼是劳累一天后最理想的减压方法。2 no trust 不信任 [countable usually plural, uncountable]TRUST the feeling that exists when people or countries do not trust each other and may suddenly attack each other or start arguing 〔人与人或国与国之间的〕紧张关系，紧张局势political/racial/social etc tension In those days, there was a great deal of racial tension on campus. 那时候校园里种族关系十分紧张。tension between The obvious tension between Warren and Anne made everyone else uncomfortable. 沃伦和安妮之间明显的紧张关系让每个人都不舒服。3 different influences 不同的影响力 [countable, uncountable]DIFFERENT if there is tension between two things, there is a difference between the needs or influences of each, and that causes problems 〔需求或影响力间的〕冲突，紧张状况tension between In business, there’s always a tension between the needs of customers and shareholders. 在商业活动中，客户的需求和股东的需求之间始终存在着矛盾。4 tightness 绷紧 [uncountable]TIGHT tightness or stiffness in a wire, rope, muscle etc 〔电线、绳子、肌肉等的〕拉紧，绷紧 Tension in the neck muscles can cause headaches. 颈部肌肉紧张会导致头痛。 Muscle tension can be a sign of stress. 肌肉紧张可能是压力大的迹象。5 force 力量 [uncountable]HP the amount of force that stretches something 张力，拉力 This wire will take 50 pounds tension. 这种金属线能承受50磅的张力。tension on There was a lot of tension on the wire before it snapped. 金属丝承受着很大的拉力，最后绷断了。n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: a nervous worried feeling that makes it impossible for you to relaxadjectivesunbearableThe tension was almost unbearable by the time we reached the decisive last round.nervous tensionThe night before the wedding my mother was in a state of nervous tension.high tensionThere was a moment of high tension as the firemen entered the burning building.dramatic tension (=the tension you feel when you are not sure quite what will happen in a story)This uncertainty adds to the film’s dramatic tension.verbsreduce/ease/relieve tensionBreathing deeply helps to clear my mind and reduce tension.sense the tensionShe could sense the tension in the room.phrasesa state of tensionMarjorie lived in a constant state of tension waiting for his phone calls.an atmosphere of tensionVoting took place in an atmosphere of tension.n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: the feeling that exists when people or countries do not trust each other and may suddenly attack each other or start arguingadjectivesracial tensionRacial tension boiled over and riots quickly spread.social tensionThe economic crisis was accompanied by mounting social tension.political tensionThe heightened political tension could easily spill over into violence.tension is/remains highAfter the election, political tension remains high.increasing/growing/mounting/rising tensionThere are reports of increasing tension in some areas.heightened tension (=greater than before)a time of heightened tension between the two countriesverbsdefuse tension (=make a situation more friendly)He searched for ways of defusing racial tension.raise/increase the tensionThe arrests only served to raise the tension.phrasesa source of tensionThis agreement should remove a major source of tension among America’s allies.Examples from the Corpus
tension• Tension in the region has grown due to recent bombings.• A crowd gathered and tension mounted till the riot broke out.• But tensions continue to boil over.• Any experienced masseur can tell how often, as they release muscle tension, tears are shed.• The rope can take up to 300 pounds of tension.• racial tension• In general terms, the greater the area of the sail, the higher the tension on the line.• The tension was high in Mexico as the day of the decision approached.• The room was filled with tension as students waited for the test to begin.• The atmosphere in her house is thick with tension.• Her voice trembled with tension.reduce/relieve/ease etc tension• And it is proven to lead to stronger, more solid bones, relieve tension, depression and insomnia.• Authorities claim that a short nap can reduce tension and revitalize you.• Effective discipline reduces tension and clarifies for children their role, responsibilities, and identity in the world.• Nixon cited the potential for reducing tensions between the two nations.• Chewing gives psychological satisfaction, and even in scientific experiments the chewing of gum has been found to help reduce tension.• She was pleased to learn relaxation techniques to help reduce tension that might arise in the future.• For some, it's the chewing itself that relieves tension.• The talks were due to include discussions of measures to reduce tension between the two states and to promote bilateral exchanges.tension between• The conflict is typical of the tension between developers and residents.• Dan struggled to reduce the tension between work and family life.tension on• There is a lot of tension on the wire.Origin tension (1500-1600) French Latin tensio, from tendere; → TENDten·sion noun →n COLLOCATIONS1 →n COLLOCATIONS2LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
a Corpus that feeling nervous it makes worried
tension
ten‧sion W2 AC /ˈtenʃən/
noun1. NERVOUS FEELING [uncountable] a nervous worried feeling that makes it impossible for you to relax ⇨ tense:
The tension was becoming unbearable, and I wanted to scream.
reduce/relieve/ease etc tension
Exercise is the ideal way to relieve tension after a hard day.
2. NO TRUST [countable usually plural, uncountable] the feeling that exists when people or countries do not trust each other and may suddenly attack each other or start arguing
political/racial/social etc tension
In those days, there was a great deal of racial tension on campus.
tension between
The obvious tension between Warren and Anne made everyone else uncomfortable.
3. DIFFERENT INFLUENCES [uncountable and countable] if there is tension between two things, there is a difference between the needs or influences of each, and that causes problems
tension between
In business, there’s always a tension between the needs of customers and shareholders.
4. TIGHTNESS [uncountable] tightness or stiffness in a wire, rope, muscle etc:
Tension in the neck muscles can cause headaches.
Muscle tension can be a sign of stress.
5. FORCE [uncountable] the amount of force that stretches something:
This wire will take 50 pounds tension.
tension on
There was a lot of tension on the wire before it snapped.
■ adjectives
▪unbearable The tension was almost unbearable by the time we reached the decisive last round.
▪nervous tension The night before the wedding my mother was in a state of nervous tension.
▪high tension There was a moment of high tension as the firemen entered the burning building.
▪dramatic tension (=the tension you feel when you are not sure quite what will happen in a story) This uncertainty adds to the film’s dramatic tension.
■ verbs
▪reduce/ease/relieve tension Breathing deeply helps to clear my mind and reduce tension.
▪sense the tension She could sense the tension in the room.
■ phrases
▪a state of tension Marjorie lived in a constant state of tension waiting for his phone calls.
▪an atmosphere of tension Voting took place in an atmosphere of tension.
■ adjectives
▪racial tension Racial tension boiled over and riots quickly spread.
▪social tension The economic crisis was accompanied by mounting social tension.
▪political tension The heightened political tension could easily spill over into violence.
▪tension is/remains high After the election, political tension remains high.
▪increasing/growing/mounting/rising tension There are reports of increasing tension in some areas.
▪heightened tension (=greater than before) a time of heightened tension between the two countries
■ verbs
▪defuse tension (=make a situation more friendly) He searched for ways of defusing racial tension.
▪raise/increase the tension The arrests only served to raise the tension.
■ phrases
▪a source of tension This agreement should remove a major source of tension among America’s allies.
ten‧sion W2 AC /ˈtenʃən/
noun1. NERVOUS FEELING [uncountable] a nervous worried feeling that makes it impossible for you to relax ⇨ tense: reduce/relieve/ease etc tension
2. NO TRUST [countable usually plural, uncountable] the feeling that exists when people or countries do not trust each other and may suddenly attack each other or start arguing
political/racial/social etc tension
tension between
3. DIFFERENT INFLUENCES [uncountable and countable] if there is tension between two things, there is a difference between the needs or influences of each, and that causes problems
tension between
4. TIGHTNESS [uncountable] tightness or stiffness in a wire, rope, muscle etc:
5. FORCE [uncountable] the amount of force that stretches something:
tension on
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pressure difficulties and feelings of anxiety that are caused by the need to achieve sth or to behave in a particular way 指为达到某一目标或有某种行为表现而产生的心理压力、紧张 ：◆ She was unable to attend because of the pressures of work. 由于工作紧张，她不能出席。 stress pressure or anxiety caused by the problems in sb's life 指因生活问题引起的精神压力、心理负担、紧张 ：◆ stress-related illnesses 与精神压力有关的疾病
pressure or stress? 用 pressure 还是 stress？
tension a feeling of anxiety and stress that makes it impossible to relax 指情绪上的紧张、烦躁 ：◆ nervous tension 神经紧张 strain pressure on sb/sth because they have too much to do or manage; the problems, worry or anxiety that this produces 指压力、重负、重压之下出现的问题、担忧 ：◆ I found it a strain looking after four children. 我觉得照料四个孩子挺累的。
Patterns
to be under pressure/stress/strainconsiderable pressure/stress/tension/strainto cause stress/tension/strainto cope with the pressure/stress/tension/strainto relieve/release the pressure/stress/tension/strainto be suffering from stress/tension