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stress

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Stress is physical or mental tension. (noun)

An example of stress is the pressure to finish three large projects by the end of the day.
An example of stress is discomfort and pain in your arms from carrying too heavy of an item.

Stress means to strain or add physical or mental tension. (verb)

An example of stress is to constantly ask someone questions while she is working on an important project that is due soon.

See stress in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

strain or straining force; specif.,
1. force exerted upon a body, that tends to strain or deform its shape
2. the intensity of such force, usually measured in pounds per square inch
3. the opposing reaction or cohesiveness of a body resisting such force
emphasis; importance; significance
1. mental or emotional tension or strain characterized by feelings of anxiety, fear, etc.
2. a factor or combination of factors that causes such tension or strain, as an urgent need or perceived threat
3. Psychol. a condition typically characterized by symptoms of mental and physical tension or strain, as depression or hypertension, that can result from a reaction to a situation in which a person feels threatened, pressured, etc.
Music accent (senses & )
Phonet.
1. the relative force or loudness with which a syllable is uttered
2. an accented syllable
Prosody
1. the relative force of utterance given a syllable or word according to the meter
2. an accented syllable

transitive verb

1. to put stress, pressure, or strain on
2. Informal to subject to mental or emotional stress
to give stress or accent to
to emphasize

Related Forms:

stressful adjective
stressfully adverb

See stress in American Heritage Dictionary 4

stress

noun

Importance, significance, or emphasis placed on something. See Synonyms at emphasis.
Linguistics
a. The relative force with which a sound or syllable is spoken.
b. The emphasis placed on the sound or syllable spoken most forcefully in a word or phrase.
a. The relative force of sound or emphasis given a syllable or word in accordance with a metrical pattern.
b. A syllable having strong relative emphasis in a metrical pattern.
Accent or a mark representing such emphasis or force.
Physics
a. An applied force or system of forces that tends to strain or deform a body.
b. The internal resistance of a body to such an applied force or system of forces.
a. 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.
b. 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).

transitive verb 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: stress out Informal To subject to or undergo extreme stress, as from working too much.

Origin: 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 ).