English → Latin
“tension” in Latin
tēnsiōstretching, stretching out, extension; tensiontēnsūrastretching, straining, tensionextendōto stretch or thrust out; to extend, prolong or continue; to enlarge or increasefūnisrope, cord, lineintendōto stretch out; to strain; to turn one's attention to, focus (on); to aim, turn, directchordatripe, intestine (as food); catgut, string of a musical instrument; rope, cord for binding a slavearcusarc, arch; bow (arc-shaped weapon used for archery); rainbowcontendōto hurry; to stretch, draw tight, make taut, strain; to place together in comparison, compare, contrast
The English word tension itself goes back to Latin tendō, through tensio.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
tension
tensio (Hygin., Vitr., post-classical, rare): tensura (post-classical, Hygin., Veg.). Mostly by circumlocution with extendere (e.g., funem): intendere (e.g., chordas, arcum): contendere (arcum, etc.): intendere aliquid aliqua re (e.g., sellam loris).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for tension?
- The usual Latin words for “tension” are tēnsiō, tēnsūra, extendō; also fūnis, intendō, chorda. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.