stress

Universal Words noun, verb noun mental pressure 1 [U,C] pressure or worry caused by the problems in sb's life: Things can easily go wrong when people are under stress. * to suffer from stress * coping with stress * She failed to withstand the stresses and strains of public life. * stress-related illnesses * emotional / mental stress * Stress is often a factor in the development of long-term sickness. * stress management (= dealing with stress) physical pressure 2 [U,C] ~ (on sth) pressure put on sth that can damage it or make it lose its shape: When you have an injury you start putting stress on other parts of your body. * a stress fracture of the foot (= one caused by such pressure) emphasis 3 [U] ~ (on sth) special importance given to sth: She lays great stress on punctuality. * I think the company places too much stress on cost and not enough on quality. on word / syllable 4 [U,C] (phonetics) an extra force used when pronouncing a particular word or syllable: We worked on pronunciation, stress and intonation. * primary / secondary stress * In 'strategic' the stress falls on the second syllable compareINTONATION in music 5 [U,C] extra force used when making a particular sound in music illness 6 [U] illness caused by difficult physical conditions: Those most vulnerable to heat stress are the elderly. verb emphasize 1 to emphasize a fact, an idea, etc: [VN] He stressed the importance of a good education. * [Vthat] I must stress that everything I've told you is strictly confidential. * [Vspeech] 'There is,' Johnson stressed, 'no real alternative.' * [VNthat] It must be stressed that this disease is very rare. [also Vwh-] word / syllable 2 [VN] to give extra force to a word or syllable when saying it: You stress the first syllable in 'happiness'.