1 [U] the condition of not being able to relax because you are worried or nervous 紧张（状态）: I could hear the tension in her voice as she spoke. 从她说话的声音，我感觉到她很紧张。

2 [C,U] bad feeling and lack of trust between people, countries, etc （人、国家等之间的）紧张关系或局势: There are signs of growing tensions between the two countries. 有迹象表明那两个国家的关系日趋紧张。

3 [U] (used about a rope, muscle, etc) the state of being stretched tight; how tightly sth is stretched （指绳索、肌肉等）紧张的状态或程度；拉力；张力: The massage relieved the tension in my neck. 按摩消除了我脖子僵硬的感觉。