stress test

¹ American  

noun

1. a test, especially one conducted in a laboratory, to determine how much pressure, tension, wear, or the like a given product or material can withstand.

2. Medicine/Medical. a test of cardiovascular health made by recording heart rate, blood pressure, electrocardiogram, and other parameters while a person undergoes physical exertion.

3. a simulation test to determine how a given institution, system, etc., would perform under greater than usual stresses or pressures.

   the government’s stress test for big banks;

   mandatory stress tests for nuclear plants;

   a website stress test that simulates peak traffic.

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stress-test ² American  

[stres-test] / ˈstrɛsˌtɛst /

verb (used with object)

1. to subject to a stress test.

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Other Word Forms

• stress-testing noun

Etymology

Origin of stress test

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Both Blue Owl and CoreWeave have become stress tests for the AI trade on Wall Street.

From Barron's

Risk models, stress tests, and liquidity practices begin to assume that level of reserves is a baseline.

From Barron's

Supervisory stress tests rely heavily on discretion and are largely negotiated behind closed doors.

From Barron's

MILAN—For most couples, the ultimate relationship stress tests involve household temperatures, airport arrival times and trips to IKEA.

From The Wall Street Journal

Now the clock is ticking toward the Valentine’s Day-Super Bowl eclipse, presenting the ultimate stress test for couples with different views on which day is more special.

From The Wall Street Journal