Definition of "stress" []

• Importance, significance, or emphasis placed on something. See Synonyms at emphasis. (noun)
• Linguistics The relative force with which a sound or syllable is spoken. (noun)
• Linguistics The emphasis placed on the sound or syllable spoken most forcefully in a word or phrase. (noun)
• The relative force of sound or emphasis given a syllable or word in accordance with a metrical pattern. (noun)
• A syllable having strong relative emphasis in a metrical pattern. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "As anyone knows who has had a treadmill stress test, the whole idea is to ’stress’ the cardiovascular system of the person being tested."
• "The term "stress spillover," refers to when stress from external sources leaches into a relationship."
• "Tokyo workers and students try to remain productive in spite of prevalent sutoresu, which, if you say it fast enough, will capture how the word stress comes out in Japanese.viii Residents of Bogotá, Colombia, complain of estrés resulting from ongoing security problems throughout their nation."