pressure
n. C / Un. the physical force you put on something when you push against it. It also means the stressful feeling that you must do something difficult or do it quickly.
n. continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it. In abstract contexts, it describes the stressful demand or expectation placed upon someone.
Apply pressure to the cut to stop the bleeding.
The manager put a lot of pressure on the team to finish the software update before the weekend.
As the deadline approached, the immense pressure to deliver a flawless presentation began to fracture the team's previously cooperative dynamic.
From Latin pressūra.
Uncountable when referring to general physical force or mental stress; countable when discussing specific types or instances of demands.