tensile
Able to stretch
Tensile describes the capacity to be stretched or pulled without breaking, or relates to tension: tensile strength, tensile stress.
Materials like steel and spider silk have high tensile strength—they resist being pulled apart.
The word appears almost exclusively in technical contexts involving forces that stretch rather than compress.
Pressure, mental or vocal
- strainExcessive stretching force
- modulusAbsolute value operation
- yieldProduce or relinquish
- fractureSplit in hard material
deformation · load · elongation · toughness · fatigue · creep · ultimate · testing
Power to exert force
- elasticityTendency to resume original form
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- ductilityAbility to stretch unbroken
- pliabilityAbility to bend easily
extensibility · springiness · malleability · tautness · resilience · compliance · plasticity · give
Temporary halt or exclusion
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
- membraneThin tissue sheet
- canopyOverhead protective covering
- trussLoad-bearing beam arrangement
anchored · span · support · load-bearing · prestressed · post-tensioned · reinforced · guy-wire
stress
Pressure, mental or vocal
fracture · deformation · load · elongation · toughness · fatigue · creep · ultimate · testing · ductility
strength
Power to exert force
- elasticityTendency to resume original form
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- ductilityAbility to stretch unbroken
pliability · extensibility · springiness · malleability · tautness · resilience · compliance · plasticity · give · stretch
fiber
Plant-based digestive aid
wire · rope · cordage · webbing · mesh · yarn · thread · textile · fabric · weave
suspension
Temporary halt or exclusion
truss · anchored · span · support · load-bearing · prestressed · post-tensioned · reinforced · guy-wire · catenary
- engineeringengineers, civil engineering, engineering, electrical engineering, blueprint
- durabilitytoughness, durable, sturdiness, robustness, sturdy
- metal propertiesmalleable, ductile, conductive, magnetic, brittle
- materialsmetal, metals, wood, ceramic, fabric
- elastic thingsrubber, elastic, spandex, elastic band, latex
- flexibilitystretch, elastic, bendy, stretchy, bendable
tensilecompressive
Tending to squeeze inward
compressional · contractile · crushing · squeezing · pushing
- high tensionElevated electrical potential
- romantic tensionUnresolved mutual attraction
- sexual tensionUnresolved erotic anticipation
- emotional tensionPsychological pressure from feelings
- tension headachePain from muscle tightness
- surface tensionCohesive force at liquid interfaces