TENSOR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tensor mean? 

• TENSOR (noun)
  The noun TENSOR has 2 senses:

1. a generalization of the concept of a vector

2. any of several muscles that cause an attached structure to become tense or firm

  Familiarity information: TENSOR used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TENSOR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A generalization of the concept of a vector

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("tensor" is a kind of...):

variable; variable quantity (a quantity that can assume any of a set of values)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any of several muscles that cause an attached structure to become tense or firm

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("tensor" is a kind of...):

muscle; musculus (one of the contractile organs of the body)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "tensor"):

tensor tympani (a small muscle in the middle ear that tenses to protect the eardrum)

Derivation:

tense (become tense, nervous, or uneasy)

 Context examples 

Ultra-high resolution MRI and diffusion tensor imaging provided structural information about the brains.

(An Atlas of the Developing Human Brain, NIH)

A channel or tunnel for the tensor tympani muscle within the tympanic cavity which acts to dull sounds.

(Canal for Tensor Tympani, NCI Thesaurus)

One of two (deep circumflex and superficial circumflex) iliac arteries that supply the lower abdomen, inguinal lymph nodes, sartorius, and tensor fasciae latae.

(Circumflex Iliac Artery, NCI Thesaurus)

In addition, using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods, the researchers detected reduced local volume of the corpus callosum in the mutant mice despite normal diffusion tensor MRI values, providing further support for a defect in this brain region.

(Study in mice identifies type of brain cell involved in stuttering, National Institutes of Health)