Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense stresses, present participle stressing, past tense, past participle stressed
1. verb
If you stress a point in a discussion, you put extra emphasis on it because you think it is important.
The spokesman stressed that the measures did not amount to an overall ban. [VERB that]
They stress the need for improved employment opportunities. [VERB noun]
'We're not saying we're outside and above all this,' he stresses. [VERB with quote]
Stress is also a noun.
They laid heavy stress on the need for education. [+ on]
2. variable noun [oft underN]
If you feel under stress, you feel worried and tense because of difficulties in your life.
Katy could think clearly when not under stress.
Of course, the British will suffer such daily stresses patiently.
...a wide range of stress-related problems.
Synonyms: strain, pressure, worry, tension More Synonyms of stress
3. variable noun
Stresses are strong physical pressures applied to an object.
Earthquakes happen when stresses in rock are suddenly released as the rocks fracture.
4. verb
If you stress a word or part of a word when you say it, you put emphasis on it so that it sounds slightly louder.
'Sit down,' she replied, stressing each word. [VERB noun]
Stress is also a noun.
...the misplaced stress on the first syllable of this last word.
More Synonyms of stress
stress in British English
(strɛs)
noun
1.
special emphasis or significance attached to something
2.
mental, emotional, or physical strain or tension
3.
emphasis placed upon a syllable by pronouncing it more loudly than those that surround it
4.
such emphasis as part of a regular rhythmic beat in music or poetry
5.
a syllable so emphasized
6. physics
a.
force or a system of forces producing deformation or strain
b.
the force acting per unit area
verb
7. (transitive)
to give emphasis or prominence to
8. (transitive)
to pronounce (a word or syllable) more loudly than those that surround it
9. (transitive)
to subject to stress or strain
10. informal(intransitive)
to become stressed or anxious
Derived forms
stressful (ˈstressful)
adjective
stressfully (ˈstressfully)
adverb
stressfulness (ˈstressfulness)
noun
Word origin
C14: stresse, shortened from distress
-stress in British English
suffix forming nouns
indicating a woman who performs or is engaged in a certain activity
songstress
seamstress
Compare -ster (sense 1)
Word origin
from -st(e)r + -ess
stress in American English
(strɛs)
noun
1.
strain or straining force
; specif.,
a.
force exerted upon a body, that tends to strain or deform its shape
b.
the intensity of such force, usually measured in pounds per square inch
c.
the opposing reaction or cohesiveness of a body resisting such force
2.
emphasis; importance; significance
3.
a.
mental or emotional tension or strain characterized by feelings of anxiety, fear, etc.
b.
a factor or combination of factors that causes such tension or strain, as an urgent need or perceived threat
c. Psychology
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.
4. Music
accent (sense 13) accent (sense 14)
5. Phonetics
a.
the relative force or loudness with which a syllable is uttered
b.
an accented syllable
see also primary stress, secondary stress
6. Prosody
a.
the relative force of utterance given a syllable or word according to the meter
b.
an accented syllable
verb transitive
7.
a.
to put stress, pressure, or strain on
b. Informal
to subject to mental or emotional stress
8.
to give stress or accent to
9.
to emphasize
Derived forms
stressful (ˈstressful)
adjective
stressfully (ˈstressfully)
adverb
Word origin
ME stresse < OFr estresse < VL *strictia < L strictus, strict; also, in some senses, aphetic < distress
-stress in American English
(strɪs)
1.
a female person who is, does, or creates (something specified)
songstress
2.
a female person associated with (something specified)
see also -ster
Word origin
< -ster + -ess
stress in Mechanical Engineering
(strɛs)
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Materials)
Stress is a measure of the internal forces in a material that changes shape under a force. It is equal to the force acting on the material divided by the cross-sectional area over which it is acting.
The largest stress that a rod of material can withstand is known as its ultimate tensile strength.
Process annealing is a process used to relieve stress in a cold-worked carbon steel.
Stress is a measure of the internal forces in a material that changes shape under a force.
They also stress the permanence of the mechanisms or structures for incorporation.
Low, Nicholas Politics, Planning and the State (1990)
Yet in times of stress they feel chest discomfort.
Kowalski, Robert E The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure (1990)
They also tell of the mental stress.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Were there any extra worries or stress at the time?
The Sun (2014)
Only credible stress tests matched by really big capital injections will end the speculation and worry.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This has put more stress on the exchanges to run their systems as efficiently as possible.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It tells us about the stresses and strains of judicial life.
The Sun (2011)
They both stressed how important it is to bring beginners to the sport.
The Sun (2014)
Then she was told she had a triple stress fracture and the dream was over.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Childhood memories or emotional stress are often buried behind bedroom walls.
Kretschmann, Gudrun Ten Keys to Loving Relationships (1994)
What things especially need to be stressed?
Christianity Today (2000)
Working too hard can become a stress which is dangerous.
Lamplugh, Diana & Sterwin, Diana & Nottidge, Pamela Survive the Nine to Five - a woman's guide to working well (1989)
She would be the first to admit that family stresses play their part.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The explanation given for this has been that people lower down a social hierarchy suffer more stress.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Physical stress reactions are very old survival mechanisms.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVE THINKING: Everything you have always known about positive thinking but wereafraid to put into practice (2001)
The stress of life can have an impact on your libido.
The Sun (2013)
Next time you feel stressed or unhappy pick up the phone to a friend.
The Sun (2013)
The physical and mental stresses can be staggering.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The last month has made me realise the extra pressure and stress that is on a captain.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
No other car has the ability to make the daily stresses of driving disappear or simply become an irrelevance.
The Sun (2008)
About 25 lenders are likely to fail the stress test.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Quotations
I don't have ulcers, I give themHarry Cohn
Word lists with
stress
Psychology terms
In other languages
stress
British English: stress /strɛs/ NOUN
If you lay stress on a point, you emphasize it because you think it is important.
The company is laying ever more stress on export sales.
American English: stress
Arabic: تَأْكِيد
Brazilian Portuguese: ênfase
Chinese: 压力
Croatian: stres
Czech: důraz
Danish: vægt betoning
Dutch: nadruk
European Spanish: énfasis
Finnish: stressi
French: accent
German: Stress
Greek: ένταση
Italian: tensione ansia
Japanese: ストレス
Korean: 스트레스
Norwegian: belastning
Polish: stres
European Portuguese: ênfase
Romanian: stres
Russian: ударение
Latin American Spanish: énfasis
Swedish: stress
Thai: เน้น
Turkish: stres
Ukrainian: стрес
Vietnamese: sự nhấn mạnh
British English: stress /strɛs/ VERB
If you stress a point in a discussion, you emphasize it because you think it is important.
The spokesman stressed that the measures did not amount to an overall ban.
American English: stress
Arabic: يُؤَكِدُ
Brazilian Portuguese: salientar
Chinese: 着重
Croatian: naglasiti
Czech: zdůraznit
Danish: betone
Dutch: beklemtonen
European Spanish: hacer hincapié
Finnish: painottaa
French: insister sur
German: betonen
Greek: τονίζω
Italian: accentuare
Japanese: 強調する
Korean: 강조하다
Norwegian: belaste
Polish: zaakcentować
European Portuguese: salientar
Romanian: a sublinia
Russian: подчеркивать
Latin American Spanish: hacer hincapié
Swedish: stressa
Thai: เน้นย้ำ
Turkish: vurgulamak
Ukrainian: наголошувати
Vietnamese: nhấn mạnh
All related terms of 'stress'
de-stress
If you de-stress or if something de-stresses you, you do something that helps you to relax .
stress ball
a small rubber ball squeezed in the hand as a means of relieving stress
stress mark
a mark given to indicate which syllable is stressed
stress test
a simulation designed to show how a person or thing functions when affected by adverse circumstances
word stress
the stress accent on the syllables of individual words either in a sentence or in isolation
plane stress
Plane stress is a two-dimensional state of stress in which all stress is applied in a single plane.
proof stress
the equivalent of yield stress in materials which have no clearly defined yield point
shear stress
the form of stress in a body, part, etc, that tends to produce cutting rather than stretching or bending
stress relief
Stress relief involves removing stresses in a material, usually by heating it to a temperature at which it can deform easily .
yield stress
the stress level at which a metal or other material ceases to behave elastically. The stress divided by the strain is no longer constant . The point at which this occurs is known as the yield point
breaking stress
the amount of strain that, if applied to a particular material, will cause it to break
primary stress
the heaviest stress or force given to one syllable in a spoken word or to one word in an utterance ; the strongest of the four phonemic degrees of stress
sentence stress
the stress given to a word or words in a sentence, often conveying nuances of meaning or emphasis
shearing stress
a force causing two contacting parts or layers to slide upon each other, in opposite directions parallel to the plane of their contact
stress fracture
a fracture caused by cumulative , repetitive strain and excessive activity
stress pattern
the way syllables are stressed in a word, phrase, language, etc
stress position
an enforced body position, applied esp in the interrogation of detainees, which causes the victim pain by concentrating a large amount of his or her weight on a small number of muscles , joints , etc
stress reaction
Your reaction to something that has happened or something that you have experienced is what you feel, say , or do because of it.
stress-related
resulting from mental or emotional strain or tension
tensile stress
stress which pulls apart an ( elastic ) material or structure
thermal stress
Thermal stress is stress caused by differences in temperature or by differences in thermal expansion .
contrastive stress
a stress imposed on a word or syllable contrary to its normal accentuation in order to contrast it with an alternative word or syllable or to focus attention on it, as the stress given to the normally unstressed word of in government of the people, by the people, for the people in order to point up the parallel between of, by , and for and to distinguish of from words such as over or against
secondary stress
any accent , or stress , that is weaker than the full, or primary , accent
stress relaxation
Stress relaxation is a gradual reduction in stress with time at constant strain .
stress concentration
A stress concentration in a solid is a place where there is a lot of stress, either because a force is applied in a particular area or there is a change in the cross-sectional area.
posttraumatic stress disorder
a mental disorder occurring after a traumatic event outside the range of usual human experience , and characterized by symptoms such as reliving the event, reduced involvement with others, and manifestations of autonomic arousal such as hyperalertness and exaggerated startle response
stress corrosion cracking
Stress corrosion cracking is a type of corrosion that can happen when a stress is present , resulting in cracks in the surface of metal .
post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that can develop after someone has been involved in a very bad experience such as a war.
repetitive strain (or stress) injury
an injury causing a condition characterized by sharp pains in the hand, wrist , back, etc. due usually to muscle strain caused by repetitive actions performed as during work or while exercising
repetitive strain injury
Repetitive strain injury is the same as → RSI .
PTSD
PTSD is an abbreviation for → post-traumatic stress disorder .
Chinese translation of 'stress'
stress
(strɛs)
n(c/u)
(= mental strain) 压(壓)力 (yālì) (个(個), gè)
(= force, pressure) 重压(壓) (zhòngyā)
(on word, syllable) 重音 (zhòngyīn)
(= emphasis) 强(強)调(調) (qiángdiào)
vt
[point, importance]强(強)调(調) (qiángdiào)
[word, syllable]重读(讀) (zhòngdú)
to be under stress有压(壓)力 (yǒu yālì)
to lay great stress on sth极(極)其强(強)调(調)某物 (jíqí qiángdiào mǒuwù)
to stress that ... 强(強)调(調) ... (qiángdiào ... )
1 (verb)
Definition
to give emphasis to (a point or subject)
He stressed the need for new measures.
Synonyms
emphasize
I should emphasize that nothing has been finally decided as yet.
highlight
Two events have highlighted the tensions in recent days.
underline
The report underlined his concern that standards were at risk.
repeat
draw attention to
dwell on
underscore
accentuate
His shaven head accentuates his large round face.
point up
rub in
flag up
impress on someone
harp on
press home
bring to the fore
belabour
2 (verb)
Definition
to pronounce (a word or syllable) more loudly than those surrounding it
She stresses the syllables as though teaching a child.
Synonyms
place the emphasis on
emphasize
`That's up to you,' I said, emphasizing the `you'.
give emphasis to
place the accent on
lay emphasis upon
1 (noun)
Definition
special emphasis or significance
schools that put more stress on practical activities
Synonyms
emphasis
Too much emphasis is placed on research.
importance
Safety is of paramount importance.
significance
ideas about the social significance of religion
force
He changed our world through the force of his ideas.
weight
That argument no longer carries much weight.
urgency
It is a matter of utmost urgency.
2 (noun)
Definition
mental, emotional, or physical strain or tension
Katy could not think clearly when under stress.
Synonyms
strain
She was tired and under great strain.
pressure
The pressures of modern life are great.
worry
tension
Smiling relieves tension and stress.
burden
Having more responsibility at work felt like a burden to him.
anxiety
His voice was full of anxiety.
trauma
I'd been through the trauma of losing a house.
oppression
hassle (informal)
nervous tension
3 (noun)
Definition
emphasis placed upon a syllable by pronouncing it more loudly than those that surround it
the misplaced stress on the first syllable
Synonyms
accent
Talk very fast and put an accent on every third word.
beat
emphasis
The emphasis is on the first syllable of the word.
accentuation
ictus
Quotation
I don't have ulcers, I give them [Harry Cohn]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accentuate
Definition
to stress or emphasize
His shaven head accentuates his large round face.
Synonyms
emphasize,
stress,
highlight,
accent,
underline,
bring home,
underscore,
foreground,
give emphasis to,
call or draw attention to
in the sense of anxiety
Definition
a state of uneasiness about what may happen
His voice was full of anxiety.
Synonyms
uneasiness,
concern,
care,
worry,
doubt,
tension,
alarm,
distress,
suspicion,
angst,
unease,
apprehension,
misgiving,
suspense,
nervousness,
disquiet,
trepidation (formal),
foreboding,
restlessness,
solicitude,
perturbation,
watchfulness,
fretfulness,
disquietude,
apprehensiveness,
dubiety
in the sense of beat
Synonyms
rhythm,
time,
measure,
stress,
metre,
accent,
cadence,
ictus
Synonyms of 'stress'
stress
Explore 'stress' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of burden
Definition
something that is difficult to bear
Having more responsibility at work felt like a burden to him.
Synonyms
trouble,
care,
worry,
trial,
weight,
responsibility,
stress,
strain,
anxiety,
sorrow,
grievance,
affliction,
onus,
albatross,
millstone,
encumbrance
in the sense of force
Definition
intellectual or moral influence
He changed our world through the force of his ideas.
Synonyms
influence,
power,
effect,
authority,
weight,
strength,
punch (informal),
significance,
effectiveness,
validity,
efficacy,
soundness,
persuasiveness,
cogency,
bite
in the sense of highlight
Definition
to give emphasis to
Two events have highlighted the tensions in recent days.
Synonyms
emphasize,
stress,
accent,
feature,
set off,
show up,
underline,
spotlight,
play up,
accentuate,
flag,
foreground,
focus attention on,
call attention to,
give prominence to,
bring to the fore
in the sense of importance
Safety is of paramount importance.
Synonyms
significance,
interest,
concern,
matter,
moment,
value,
worth,
weight,
import (formal),
consequence,
substance,
relevance,
usefulness,
momentousness
in the sense of pressure
Definition
urgent claims or demands
The pressures of modern life are great.
Synonyms
stress,
demands,
difficulty,
strain,
press,
heat,
load,
burden,
distress,
hurry,
urgency,
hassle (informal),
uphill (South Africa),
adversity,
affliction,
exigency
in the sense of significance
Definition
the effect something is likely to have on other things
ideas about the social significance of religion
Synonyms
importance,
import (formal),
consequence,
matter,
moment,
weight,
consideration,
gravity,
relevance,
magnitude,
seriousness,
impressiveness,
noteworthiness
in the sense of tension
Definition
mental or emotional strain
Smiling relieves tension and stress.
Synonyms
strain,
stress,
nervousness,
pressure,
anxiety,
unease,
apprehension,
suspense,
restlessness,
the jitters (informal),
edginess
in the sense of trauma
Definition
an emotional shock that may have long-lasting effects
I'd been through the trauma of losing a house.
Synonyms
shock,
suffering,
worry,
pain,
stress,
upset,
strain,
torture,
distress,
misery,
disturbance,
ordeal,
anguish,
upheaval,
jolt
in the sense of underline
Definition
to emphasize
The report underlined his concern that standards were at risk.