tension
strain from being stretched or pulled
Root
- tend / tens: stretch, strain, or extend
Other words with the tend / tens root
- contend: to struggle or argue for a position
- contention: a claim or point of disagreement
- contentious: likely to cause argument
- detente: easing of tension
- distend: to swell by stretching outward
Tension is stretch you can feel: a cord, muscle, room, or argument pulled tight.
The tension in the room eased when someone named the real concern.