n.
Pronunciation: ' stres
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English stresse stress, distress, short for destresse ― more at DISTRESS
Date: 14th century
1 : constraining force or influence: as a : a force exerted when one body or body part presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to compress or twist another body or body part especially : the intensity of this mutual force commonly expressed in pounds per square inch b : the deformation caused in a body by such a force c : a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation d : a state resulting from a stress especially : one of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium <job-related stress > e : STRAIN , PRESSURE <the environment is under stress to the point of collapse ― Joseph Shoben>
2 : EMPHASIS , WEIGHT <lay stress on a point>
3 archaic : intense effort or exertion
4 : intensity of utterance given to a speech sound, syllable, or word producing relative loudness
5 a : relative force or prominence of sound in verse b : a syllable having relative force or prominence
6 : ACCENT 6A