surface tension: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Scientific, occasionally literary or journalistic in metaphorical use.
Quick answer
What does “surface tension” mean?
The elastic tendency of a liquid surface to minimize its area, caused by cohesive forces between molecules at the surface.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The elastic tendency of a liquid surface to minimize its area, caused by cohesive forces between molecules at the surface.
A metaphorical term for the palpable, often unspoken, strain or unease in a social or interpersonal situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or definitional differences. Spelling remains consistent.
Connotations
Identical scientific connotations. Metaphorical use might be slightly more frequent in British literary/journalistic contexts.
Frequency
Equally frequent in technical contexts in both varieties. The metaphorical use is low-frequency in both.
Grammar
How to Use “surface tension” in a Sentence
The surface tension of [LIQUID] is [VALUE].[AGENT] reduces the surface tension.Surface tension causes [EFFECT].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “surface tension” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The detergent surfactants surface-tension the water, allowing it to soak in.
- (Note: 'surface-tension' as a verb is highly non-standard and technical)
American English
- The additive helps to surface-tension the solution for better spray application.
- (Note: 'surface-tension' as a verb is highly non-standard and technical)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form exists.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form exists.)
adjective
British English
- The surface-tension properties of the new fluid were remarkable.
- (Hyphenated compound adjective)
American English
- We conducted a surface tension measurement experiment.
- (Often used as a noun adjunct, not a true adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific industries like coatings, cosmetics, or chemical manufacturing.
Academic
Common in physics, chemistry, engineering, and fluid dynamics textbooks and papers.
Everyday
Very rare in literal sense. Occasionally used metaphorically (e.g., 'There was a palpable surface tension in the room after the argument').
Technical
The primary domain. Precise, measurable property discussed in relation to surfactants, capillarity, droplet formation, etc.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “surface tension”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “surface tension”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “surface tension”
- Using 'surface tension' to mean general stress or pressure (e.g., 'work surface tension').
- Confusing it with 'friction' or 'viscosity'.
- Incorrect plural: 'surface tensions' (usually uncountable, though can be plural when comparing different liquids).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable (e.g., 'Water has high surface tension'). It can be countable when referring to the specific property of different substances (e.g., 'The surface tensions of various oils were compared').
No, it is not a standard verb. In technical jargon, one might say 'affect surface tension' or 'alter surface tension' instead.
Surface tension is a force at the surface of a liquid resisting external force, related to cohesion. Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's internal resistance to flow, related to friction between layers.
It describes a subtle but palpable strain in a social setting, akin to the invisible 'skin' on water that can be broken. It implies things are stable but under hidden stress.
The elastic tendency of a liquid surface to minimize its area, caused by cohesive forces between molecules at the surface.
Surface tension is usually technical/scientific, occasionally literary or journalistic in metaphorical use. in register.
Surface tension: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɜːfɪs ˌtenʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɜːrfɪs ˌtenʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Break the surface tension (metaphorical: to relieve social awkwardness).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the 'skin' on the surface of a glass of milk or a water droplet. This 'tense skin' is the surface tension holding it together.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL STRAIN IS SURFACE TENSION (e.g., 'The meeting was filled with surface tension before the deal was announced').
Practice
Quiz
Which phenomenon is most directly explained by surface tension?