/ stres; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
MENTAL PRESSURE
1.
[ U , C ] pressure or worry caused by the problems in sb's life :
Things can easily go wrong when people are under stress .
to suffer from stress
coping with stress
She failed to withstand the stresses and strains of public life.
stress-related illnesses
emotional / mental stress
Stress is often a factor in the development of long-term sickness.
stress management (= dealing with stress)
➡ note at pressure
PHYSICAL PRESSURE
2.
[ U , C ] stress (on sth) pressure put on sth that can damage it or make it lose its shape :
When you have an injury you start putting stress on other parts of your body.
a stress fracture of the foot (= one caused by such pressure)
EMPHASIS
3.
[ U ] stress (on sth) special importance given to sth :
She lays great stress on punctuality.
I think the company places too much stress on cost and not enough on quality.
ON WORD / SYLLABLE
4.
[ U , C ] ( phonetics ) an extra force used when pronouncing a particular word or syllable :
We worked on pronunciation, stress and intonation.
primary / secondary stress
In 'strategic' the stress falls on the second syllable
—compare intonation
IN MUSIC
5.
[ U , C ] extra force used when making a particular sound in music
ILLNESS
6.
[ U ] illness caused by difficult physical conditions :
Those most vulnerable to heat stress are the elderly.
■ verb
EMPHASIZE
1.
to emphasize a fact, an idea, etc. :
[ vn ]
He stressed the importance of a good education.
[ v that ]
I must stress that everything I've told you is strictly confidential.
[ v speech ]
'There is,' Johnson stressed, 'no real alternative.'
[ vn that ]
It must be stressed that this disease is very rare.
[also v wh- ]
WORD / SYLLABLE
2.
[ vn ] to give extra force to a word or syllable when saying it :
You stress the first syllable in 'happiness'.
3.
stress out | stress sb (out) to become or make sb become too anxious or tired to be able to relax :
[ v ]
I try not to stress out when things go wrong.
[ vn ]
Driving in cities really stresses me (out).
••
SYNONYMS
stress
emphasize
These words both mean to give extra force to a syllable, word or phrase when you are saying it.
stress
to give extra force to a word or syllable when saying it:
You stress the first syllable in 'happiness'.
emphasize
to give extra force to a word or phrase when saying it, especially to show that it is important:
'Let nothing ... nothing,' he emphasized the word , 'tempt you.'
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (denoting hardship or force exerted on a person for the purpose of compulsion): shortening of distress , or partly from Old French estresse narrowness, oppression, based on Latin strictus drawn tight, past participle of stringere tighten, draw tight.