tension
n. C / Un. a feeling of worry or nervousness that makes it hard to relax. It can also mean the physical tightness in a wire, rope, or your own muscles.
n. a state of mental or emotional strain; alternatively, the physical force transmitted through a string, cable, or similar object when pulled by forces acting from opposite ends.
You can feel the tension in the room.
The bridge design accounts for the extreme tension placed on the steel cables during high winds.
Diplomatic efforts were aimed at reducing the growing tension between the two nations before the border dispute escalated into a full-scale military conflict.
Borrowed from Middle French tension, from Latin tēnsiō.
Uncountable when referring to a general state of strain; countable when referring to specific instances of conflict or physical forces.