stresses
|stress-es|
/ˈstrɛsɪz/
(stress)
emphasis or pressure
Etymology
'stress' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'estresse', where the Latin root 'strictus' (from 'stringere') meant 'drawn tight'.
'stress' changed from Old French 'estresse' and Middle English 'stresse' and eventually became the modern English word 'stress'.
Initially, it meant 'narrowness or oppression' (related to being 'drawn tight'), but over time it evolved into current senses of 'pressure' and 'emphasis'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'stress' meaning mental or emotional pressure or strain.
She often experiences severe stresses at work.
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Noun 2
plural of 'stress' meaning forces or pressures acting on a physical object (engineering, physics).
The structural stresses in the beam caused cracks.
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Noun 3
plural of 'stress' meaning the emphasis placed on syllables or words in speech (phonetic stress).
In that poem the stresses fall on the second syllable of each line.
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Verb 1
third-person singular present of 'stress': to emphasize or give special importance to something.
She stresses the need for punctuality.
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Verb 2
third-person singular present of 'stress': to cause someone to feel mental or emotional pressure.
He often stresses his team with unrealistic deadlines.
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Last updated: 2025/11/03 07:54