Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
pretax profit margin
preteen
pretence
pretend
pretender
pretendian
pretense
pretension (1)
pretension (2)
pretensive
pretentious
preter-
preterit
preterition
preterm
preterminal
pretermit
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "pretensi..." in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

pretension (2)

pre·ten·sion [ pr ténshən ] (past and past participle pre·ten·sioned, present participle pre·ten·sion·ing, 3rd person present singular pre·ten·sions)


transitive verb 
Definition:
 
strengthen concrete before it has set: to strengthen reinforced concrete by applying tension to the reinforcing steel before the concrete has set

[Mid-20th century. <pre- + tension]
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
MSN Shopping
Upgrade your Encarta experience
Encarta RSS Feeds
© 2008 Microsoft