stress Definition

stress
noun stresses

1. Physical or mental overexertion.
2a. Pressure of adverse influences, circumstance, etc that disturbs the natural physiological balance of the body;

Example: the stress of teaching
Thesaurus: strain, tension, pressure, anxiety, apprehension; Antonym: peace, calm.
2b. The condition that can result from being under this kind of pressure which manifests in physical, mental, emotional, etc disturbance.

Example: had six weeks off work suffering from stress
3. Importance, emphasis or weight laid on or attached to something.

Example: The stress was on speed not quality
Thesaurus: emphasis, significance, importance, weight, import, urgency.
4. The comparatively greater amount of force that is used in the pronunciation of a particular syllable.

Example: The stress is on the first syllable
5. physics.
The force that is exerted per unit area on a body causing it to change its dimensions.

verb stresses, stressed, stressing

1. To emphasize or attach importance to something.

Thesaurus: accentuate, emphasize, underscore, repeat, reiterate, belabour; Antonym: relax.
2. To pronounce (a sound, word, etc) with emphasis.
3. To subject to mental or physical stress.

Derivative: stressful
adj

Derivative: stressfully
adverb

Derivative: stressless
noun

Derivative: stressor
noun

Etymology: 14c: shortened form of distress.

Phrasal Verb: stress someone out

To put them under severe mental, emotional, etc pressure. See also stressed-out.
Example: The job really stresses her out