stress
pronunciation
How to pronounce stress in British English:
UK [stres]
How to pronounce stress in American English:
US [stres]
-
- Noun:
- the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch)
- (psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
- (physics) force that produces strain on a physical body
- special emphasis attached to something
- difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension
-
- Verb:
- to stress, single out as important
- put stress on; utter with an accent
- test the limits of
Word Origin
- stress (n.)
- c. 1300, "hardship, adversity, force, pressure," in part a shortening of Middle English distress (n.); in part from Old French estrece "narrowness, oppression," from Vulgar Latin *strictia, from Latin strictus "tight, compressed, drawn together," past participle of stringere "draw tight" (see strain (v.)). Meaning "physical strain on a material object" is from mid-15c. As an abstract force in mechanics from 1855. The purely psychological sense is attested from 1955.
- stress (v.)
- c. 1300, "to subject (someone) to force or compulsion," from Middle French estrecier, from Vulgar Latin *strictiare, from Latin stringere "draw tight," which also is the source of stress (n.). The figurative meaning "put emphasis on" is first recorded 1896, from notion of laying pressure on something by relying on it. Related: Stressed; stressing.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Can stress hurt your heart ?
- 2. They stress a long legacy of openness and innovation .
- 3. You deserve many sleepless nights and a stress ulcer .
- 4. Knowing your stress triggers is just the first step .
- 5. That extends the life of an aircraft by subjecting it to less stress .