importance or significance attached to a thing; emphasis: to lay stress upon good manners.
2.
Phonetics. emphasis in the form of prominent relative loudness of a syllable or a word as a result of special effort in utterance.
3.
Prosody. accent or emphasis on syllables in a metrical pattern; beat.
4.
emphasis in melody, rhythm, etc.; beat.
5.
the physical pressure, pull, or other force exerted on one thing by another; strain.
6.
Mechanics.
a.
the action on a body of any system of balanced forces whereby strain or deformation results.
b.
the amount of stress, usually measured in pounds per square inch or in pascals.
c.
a load, force, or system of forces producing a strain.
d.
the internal resistance or reaction of an elastic body to the external forces applied to it.
e.
the ratio of force to area.
7.
Physiology. a specific response by the body to a stimulus, as fear or pain, that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism.
8.
physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension: Worry over his job and his wife's health put him under a great stress.
9.
a situation, occurrence, or factor causing this: The stress of being trapped in the elevator gave him a pounding headache.
10.
Archaic. strong or straining exertion.
–verb (used with object)
11.
to lay stress on; emphasize.
12.
Phonetics. to pronounce (a syllable or a word) with prominent loudness: Stress the first syllable of “runner.” Stress the second word in “put up with.” Compare accent(def. 18).
13.
to subject to stress or strain.
14.
Mechanics. to subject to stress.
Origin: 1275–1325; (n.) ME stresse, aph. var. of distressedistress; (v.) deriv. of the n.
Importance, significance, or emphasis placed on something. See Synonyms at emphasis.
Linguistics
The relative force with which a sound or syllable is spoken.
The emphasis placed on the sound or syllable spoken most forcefully in a word or phrase.
The relative force of sound or emphasis given a syllable or word in accordance with a metrical pattern.
A syllable having strong relative emphasis in a metrical pattern.
An applied force or system of forces that tends to strain or deform a body.
The internal resistance of a body to such an applied force or system of forces.
A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression.
A stimulus or circumstance causing such a condition.
The relative force of sound or emphasis given a syllable or word in accordance with a metrical pattern.
A syllable having strong relative emphasis in a metrical pattern.
An applied force or system of forces that tends to strain or deform a body.
The internal resistance of a body to such an applied force or system of forces.
A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression.
A stimulus or circumstance causing such a condition.
Accent or a mark representing such emphasis or force.
Physics
An applied force or system of forces that tends to strain or deform a body.
The internal resistance of a body to such an applied force or system of forces.
A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression.
A stimulus or circumstance causing such a condition.
A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression.
A stimulus or circumstance causing such a condition.
A state of extreme difficulty, pressure, or strain: "He presided over the economy during the period of its greatest stress and danger"(Robert J. Samuelson).
tr.v.
stressed, stress·ing, stress·es
To place emphasis on: stressed basic fire safety.
To give prominence to (a syllable or word) in pronouncing or in accordance with a metrical pattern.
To subject to physical or mental pressure, tension, or strain.
To subject to mechanical pressure or force.
To construct so as to withstand a specified stress.
Phrasal Verb(s): stress out Informal To subject to or undergo extreme stress, as from working too much.
[Middle English stresse, hardship, partly from destresse (from Old French; see distress) and partly from Old French estrece, narrowness, oppression (from Vulgar Latin *strictia, from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere, to draw tight; see strait).]
A physical factor, such as injury, or mental state, such as anxiety, that disturbs the body's normal state of functioning. Stress may contribute to the development of some illnesses, including heart disease and cancer.
Note: The term stress also refers to the physical and mental state produced in the body when it is influenced by such factors: “The stress of the new job was too much for Tim, so he requested reassignment to his old position in the company.”
in. to suffer annoyance; to experience stress. : Clare finds that she is stressing more and more about little things.
tv. to annoy or bother someone. (See also stressed.) : Don't stress Willy! He's had a hard day.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History
stress (v.)
c.1303, "to subject (someone) to force or compulsion," from the source of stress (n.). The fig. meaning "put emphasis on" is first recorded 1896, from notion of laying pressure on something by relying on it.
The force per unit area applied to an object. Objects subject to stress tend to become distorted or deformed. Compare strain. See also axial stress, shear stress., See more at Hooke's law.
A physiologic reaction by an organism to an uncomfortable or unfamiliar physical or psychological stimulus. Biological changes result from stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, including a heightened state of alertness, anxiety, increased heart rate, and sweating.
The stimulus or circumstance causing such a reaction.
[stres] 
