Tensile
Adjective
- Relating to tension.
- Capable of being drawn out or stretched.
Example Sentences
“The flooding increased the tensile forces and caused cracks in the foundation.”
“The tensile quality of steel allowed for the construction of high-rises.”
“If the tensile forces increase, the base will crack.”
Word Origin
Latin, early 17th century
Why this word?
In Latin, the verb “tendere” means “to stretch.” It evolved into an adjective, “tensilis,” in medieval Latin. We use “tensile” as an adjective in English mainly in technical contexts. It can describe tension related to physics or a material capable of being stretched. A tensile structure is an architectural construction built using only tension with no compression or bending. Recognizable tensile structures include the O2 in London, the Denver International Airport, and Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo.
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