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pre•ten•sion

Pronunciation: (pri-ten'shun), [key]
—n.
1. the laying of a claim to something.
2. a claim or title to something.
3. Often, pretensions. 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

Pronunciation: (prē-ten'shun), [key]
—v.t.
1. (in prestressed-concrete construction) to apply tension to (reinforcing strands) before the concrete is poured. Cf. posttension (def. 1).
2. to make (a concrete member) with pretensioned reinforcement.

pretense

pretentious