stress

US / strɛs/

UK /stres/

A2

verb

  • To emphasize one or more parts of a word, sentence
  • To put pressure on something or someone
  • To say your opinion strongly
  • To be in a state of mental tension due to problems

noun

  • Emphasis on part of a word or sentence
  • Pressure on something or someone
  • A state of mental tension, worry due to problems

Examples

The tower exerts an enormous stress on the walls. The movements set up stresses in the earth's crust.

Engineers calculated the stresses borne by each of the bridge supports.