stress
n 1: the relative prominence of a syllable (especially with
regard to stress or pitch); "he put the stress on the
wrong syllable" [syn: {emphasis}, {accent}, {accentuation}]
2: a state mental or emotional strain or suspense; "he suffered
from fatigue and emotional tension" [syn: {tension}, {tenseness}]
3: special emphasis attached to something; "the stress was more
on accuracy than on speed" [syn: {focus}]
4: a state of extreme difficulty: "he presided over the economy
during the period of the greatest stress and danger"-
R.J.Samuelson [syn: {strain}]
5: (physics) force that produces strain on a physical body
6: an intense or violent exertion [syn: {strain}, {straining}]
7: a physical force producing deformation or strain
v 1: to stress, single out as important: "Dr. Jones emphasizes
exercise in addition to a change in diet." [syn: {emphasize},
{punctuate}, {accent}, {accentuate}]
2: put stress on; utter with an accent [syn: {accent}]
3: direct attention to, as if by means of contrast; "This dress
accentuates your nice figure!" "I set off these words by
brackets" [syn: {emphasize}, {bring out}, {accentuate}, {set
off}, {accent}] [ant: {deemphasize}]
4: test the limits of; "You are trying my patience!" [syn: {try},
{strain}]