(physics) force that produces strain on a physical body
"the intensity of stress is expressed in units of force divided by units of area"
A physical, chemical, infective agent aggressing an organism.
"The chronic exposure to heavy metals acted as a significant environmental stress that weakened the coral reef's immune system."
In plain English: Stress is the feeling of being overwhelmed or anxious when you have too much to deal with.
"The heavy work schedule caused a lot of stress for her."
put stress on; utter with an accent
"In Farsi, you accent the last syllable of each word"
To apply force to (a body or structure) causing strain.
"The sudden gust of wind applied immense stress to the old bridge's supports, threatening to bring it down."
In plain English: To stress something means to put pressure on it or emphasize its importance.
"The heavy workload is starting to stress him out."
Usage: Use this verb when describing physical pressure applied to an object that causes it to bend, break, or deform under load. Avoid using it metaphorically in casual conversation unless specifically referring to mechanical tension on a material.
The word "stress" is a shortened version of the Middle English term destresse, which came from the Old French verb meaning to stretch out. It likely merged with another form derived from an Old French word for narrowness, reflecting its original sense of being stretched tight or under pressure.