The emphasis placed on the sound or syllable spoken most forcefully in a word or phrase, A syllable having strong relative emphasis in a metrical pattern, A stimulus or circumstance causing such a condition, intransitive verb_ To place emphasis on, To subject to mechanical pressure or force, To undergo physiological or mental stress, as from working too much. Often used with out, transitive verb_ To subject to stress, pressure, or strain, To subject to phonetic stress; to accent, rare To press; to urge; to distress; to put to difficulties