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Tension vs Dilemma - What's the difference?

tension | dilemma |

As nouns the difference between tension and dilemma

is that tension is condition of being held in a state between two or more forces, which are acting in opposition to each other while dilemma is a circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.

As a verb tension

is to place an object in tension, to pull or place strain on.

tension

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Condition of being held in a state between two or more forces, which are acting in opposition to each other
  • Psychological state of being tense.
  • (physics, engineering) State of an elastic object which is stretched in a way which increases its length.
  • (physics, engineering) Force transmitted through a rope, string, cable, or similar object (used with prepositions on'', ''in'', or ''of , e.g., "The tension in the cable is 1000 N", to convey that the same magnitude of force applies to objects attached to both ends).
  • (physics, engineering) Voltage. Usually only the terms low tension, high tension, and extra-high tension, and the abbreviations LT, HT, and EHT are used. They are not precisely defined; LT is normally a few volts, HT a few hundreds of volts, and EHT thousands of volts.
  • Verb

  • To place an object in tension, to pull or place strain on.
  • We tensioned the cable until it snapped.

    Anagrams

    * ----

    dilemma

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • A strong dilemma in a desperate case! / To act with infamy, or quit the place.
  • A difficult circumstance or problem.
  • (logic) A type of syllogism of the form "if A is true then B is true; if C is true then D is true; either A or C is true; therefore either B or D is true".
  • (rhetoric) Offering to an opponent a choice between two (equally unfavorable) alternatives.
  • Usage notes

    * The sense of a difficult circumstance or problem is considered non-standard[by whom?]. * Occasionally spelled/misspelled as dilemna'', perhaps originally via false analogy with words such as ''condemn'', ''solemn'', and ''hymn . This spelling has been reportedly taught in many regions of Great Britain and the United States as well as around the world; and can be found in the works of many well-known authors (e.g. Watts, Defroe & Goldsmith). World Wide Words: Dilemma

    Synonyms

    * (circumstance in which a choice must be made between two alternatives) * (any difficult circumstance) bind, fix, pickle, problem, quandary * (logic) * (rhetoric) * See also

    Derived terms

    * on the horns of a dilemma

    See also

    * * between a rock and a hard place * between the devil and the deep blue sea * between Scylla and Charybdis * Buridan's ass

    References

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    Anagrams

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