tensile strength: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal/Technical
Quick answer
What does “tensile strength” mean?
The maximum amount of tensile stress a material can withstand before failure (breaking).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The maximum amount of tensile stress a material can withstand before failure (breaking).
A measure of a material's resistance to being pulled apart or stretched; often used metaphorically to describe resilience or the ability to endure stress.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or conceptual differences. The term is identical in technical use.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations. Slightly more likely to be used in metaphorical contexts in American business/self-help writing.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in engineering, materials science, and manufacturing contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “tensile strength” in a Sentence
The tensile strength of [MATERIAL] is [VALUE].[MATERIAL] has a tensile strength of [VALUE].to test/measure/determine the tensile strengthVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tensile strength” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Engineers will tensile-test the composite.
- The sample was tensile-tested to failure.
American English
- We need to tensile-test the prototype.
- The lab tensile-tested all batches.
adverb
British English
- The material performed tensile-strength-wise.
- The alloy is superior tensile-strength-wise.
American English
- The component failed tensile-strength-wise.
- It compares well tensile-strength-wise.
adjective
British English
- The tensile-strength properties were outstanding.
- A tensile-strength requirement was specified.
American English
- The tensile-strength data is conclusive.
- Meeting the tensile-strength standard is critical.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in manufacturing, quality control, and product specifications (e.g., 'The cable must meet minimum tensile strength requirements.')
Academic
Core term in materials science, engineering, physics, and geology papers.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used in DIY contexts or when discussing product durability.
Technical
Precise, quantified property in materials testing and engineering design.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tensile strength”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tensile strength”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tensile strength”
- Using 'tensile strength' to mean general durability or hardness.
- Saying 'The tensile strength is hard' instead of 'The tensile strength is high'.
- Confusing 'tensile' (pulling) with 'compressive' (pushing) strength.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Yield strength is the stress at which a material begins to deform plastically (permanently), while tensile strength is the maximum stress it can withstand before fracture.
Generally no. It is a property of solid materials. Liquids and gases cannot sustain tensile stress in the same way.
Megapascals (MPa) or pounds per square inch (psi).
Not necessarily. While high tensile strength is often desirable, it must be balanced with other properties like toughness, weight, and cost for a specific application.
The maximum amount of tensile stress a material can withstand before failure (breaking).
Tensile strength is usually formal/technical in register.
Tensile strength: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɛn.saɪl strɛŋθ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɛn.səl strɛŋkθ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not a literal idiom, but used metaphorically] 'The team's tensile strength was tested during the crisis.'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'tensile' like 'tension' – it's how strong something is when you try to pull it apart. A rope's tensile strength is how much weight it can hold before snapping.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRENGTH IS RESISTANCE TO BEING PULLED APART. / RESILIENCE IS TENSILE STRENGTH (e.g., 'The community's tensile strength held during the hardship.').
Practice
Quiz
What does 'tensile strength' specifically measure?