# tensor

/ˈtɛnsɝ/ (US) · /tˈɛnsɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tensor
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

a mathematical object that describes relationships between other mathematical objects, like numbers or vectors. You might hear this word when people talk about how computers learn to recognize images or speech.

For teachers: a mathematical object that generalizes the concepts of scalars and vectors to higher dimensions. It represents a multi-linear map from a set of vectors to a scalar, frequently utilized in physics for describing stress or in machine learning for multi-dimensional data arrays.

## Examples

- The software uses a tensor to represent the image data.
- In general relativity, a tensor is used to describe how gravity curves the fabric of space and time.
- Modern deep learning frameworks are built around the efficient manipulation of tensors, allowing the system to process massive amounts of high-dimensional data simultaneously across multiple layers.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the plural form 'tensors' when referring to the data structures in computational contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.