GERMAN WORD OF THE DAY
Excited, tense, electrified? Then use this word.
Published: 12 October 2022 09:30 CEST
Updated: 12 October 2022 16:06 CEST
Photo: Francesco Ungaro / Unsplash + Nicolas Raymond / flickr
Why do I need to know this word?
Because it’s a versatile word used in a wide range of contexts from the scientific, to the physiological, political and social.
What does it mean?
The voltage has several meanings in German, all of which relate to the theme of tension.
In physics, the word tension means voltage – the pressure from an energy source in a circuit that pushes current through a conductive loop.
In everyday usage, however, tension is used mostly to mean “tension” or “excitement”.
tension comes from the verb to strain – meaning to keep something taught or tense. Historically, the verb to strain was mainly used to describe the tensing of a bowstring. But this sense of the word is still used today: tightly pulled ropes are tense ropes, strings on musical instruments are curious; excited and, like overstretched bows, they too break when the tension is too great.
Over time, the use of the verb to strain and also the noun tension became increasingly free, giving rise to a more figurative use of the word. Now, tension is frequently used to describe interpersonal tensions, or tense and exciting situations.
tension is also an important word in context of muscles. With the addition of a prefix, to strain can be used to describe a variety of muscular movements, such as tighten (“to flex” or “to contract”), relax (“to relax”), and tense up (“to tense up”).
Use it like this:
The tension during the game was unbelievable
The tension during the game was unbelievable
The technician measured the voltage of the battery
The technician measured the voltage in the battery
Meditation can help relieve tension
Meditiation can help to relieve stress