stress

stress definition - medical

stress (strĕs)

noun
  1. An applied force or system of forces that tends to strain or deform a body.
  2. The resisting force set up in a body as a result of an externally applied force.
  3. A physical or psychological stimulus that can produce mental tension or physiological reactions that may lead to illness.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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