stress
/stres/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- Physical force or pressure: In physics and engineering, "stress" refers to a force that causes deformation or strain in a material. It is measured as force per unit area.
- Mental or emotional pressure: "Stress" is a state of mental, emotional, or psychological strain resulting from demanding or adverse circumstances.
- Special emphasis or importance: "Stress" can refer to the special importance, significance, or emphasis placed on something.
- Linguistic prominence: In phonetics, "stress" is the relative emphasis or prominence given to a particular syllable in a word or to a note in music.
Verb:
- To emphasize: To give special importance, value, or prominence to a point, idea, or fact.
- To pronounce with emphasis: To articulate a word or syllable with greater force or prominence.
- To subject to pressure or strain: To apply force or pressure, either physically or mentally.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The bridge was designed to withstand immense physical stress. (Referring to physical force)
- She is under a lot of stress at work. (Referring to mental pressure)
- The teacher placed great stress on the importance of honesty. (Referring to emphasis)
- In the word "record," the stress is on the first syllable when it's a noun. (Referring to linguistic prominence)
Verb:
- I must stress that this information is confidential. (To emphasize a point)
- Remember to stress the second syllable in the word "present." (To pronounce with emphasis)
- The difficult situation stressed the entire team. (To subject to pressure)
Advanced Usage
"To lay/place stress on something": To emphasize something strongly.
- The report lays stress on the need for immediate action.
"Under stress": Experiencing pressure or strain.
- The material fails when under extreme stress. (Physical)
- He makes poor decisions when under stress. (Mental/Emotional)
"Stress test": A test to evaluate the stability or performance of a system, material, or person under pressure.
- The bank underwent a financial stress test.
Variants and Related Words
Stressed (adj): Feeling worried, anxious, or under pressure; or, pronounced with emphasis.
- She felt very stressed before the exam.
- The stressed syllable is longer and louder.
Stressful (adj): Causing mental or emotional stress.
- Moving house can be a very stressful experience.
Stressor (n): Something that causes stress.
- A major life change is a common stressor.
Synonyms
- Noun (Pressure): Pressure, strain, tension, anxiety.
- Noun (Emphasis): Emphasis, importance, significance, weight.
- Verb (Emphasize): Emphasize, highlight, underline, accentuate.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Stress out (informal): To cause someone to feel extremely stressed and anxious.
- The constant deadlines are stressing me out.
Related Idioms
"The stress and strain (of something)": The pressures and difficulties of a situation.
- He couldn't handle the stress and strain of being a CEO.
"To bear the stress": To endure or withstand pressure.
- The structure is built to bear the stress of high winds.
Noun
- (physics) force that produces strain on a physical body
- the intensity of stress is expressed in units of force divided by units of area
- difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension
- she endured the stresses and strains of life
- he presided over the economy during the period of the greatest stress and danger- R.J.Samuelson
- special emphasis attached to something
- the stress was more on accuracy than on speed
- (psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
- he suffered from fatigue and emotional tension
- stress is a vasoconstrictor
- the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch)
- he put the stress on the wrong syllable
Verb
- test the limits of
- You are trying my patience!
- put stress on; utter with an accent
- In Farsi, you accent the last syllable of each word
- to stress, single out as important
- Dr. Jones emphasizes exercise in addition to a change in diet