n. & v.
n. 1 a pressure or tension exerted on a material object. b a quantity measuring this. 2 a demand on physical or mental energy. b distress caused by this (suffering from stress). 3 a emphasis (the stress was on the need for success). b accentuation; emphasis laid on a syllable or word. c an accent, esp. the principal one in a word (the stress is on the first syllable). 4 Mech. force per unit area exerted between contiguous bodies or parts of a body.
v.tr. 1 lay stress on; emphasize. 2 subject to mechanical or physical or mental stress. lay stress on indicate as important. stress disease a disease resulting from continuous mental stress. stressless adj.
[ ME f. DISTRESS, or partly f. OF estresse narrowness, oppression, ult. f. L strictus STRICT ]