stress
UK: stres | US: stres
n. pressure or tension exerted on a material object or mental state
n. emphasis placed on a word, syllable, or idea
vt. to give emphasis or importance to something
vt. to subject to physical or mental pressure
The word "stress" traces back to the Old French estrecier ("to tighten"), derived from Latin strictus (past participle of stringere "to draw tight"). Originally used in the 14th century for physical pressure (e.g., tightening ropes), it later expanded to describe mental strain (17th century) and linguistic emphasis (18th century). The core idea of "tightening" or "pressing" persists across all meanings.
Chronic stress can harm both physical and mental health.
The teacher stressed the importance of punctuality.
In the word "record," the stress falls on the first syllable.
The bridge collapsed under the stress of heavy traffic.
She stressed every detail in her presentation to avoid misunderstandings.