pretension: Meaning and Definition of

pre•ten•sion

1. the laying of a claim to something.
2. a claim or title to something.
3. Often,a claim made, esp. indirectly or by implication, to some quality, merit, or the like: They laughed at my pretensions to superior judgment.
4. a claim to dignity, importance, or merit.
5. pretentiousness.
6. the act of pretending or alleging.
7. an allegation of doubtful veracity.
8. a pretext.

pre•ten•sion

1. (in prestressed-concrete construction) to apply tension to (reinforcing strands) before the concrete is poured. Cf.(def. 1).
2. to make (a concrete member) with pretensioned reinforcement.