to apply tensile stress to (the steel cables, wires, etc, of a precast concrete part) before the load is applied
prestress in American English
(priˈstres)
transitive verb
1. (in certain concrete construction)
to apply stress to (reinforcing strands) before subjecting to a load
2.
to make (a concrete member) with prestressed reinforcing strands
Word origin
[1930–35; pre- + stress]This word is first recorded in the period 1930–35. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: DNA, preset, saddle stitch, uncertainty principle, videopre- is a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, where it meant “before”(preclude; prevent); applied freely as a prefix, with the meanings “prior to,” “in advance of,” “early,”“beforehand,” “before,” “in front of,” and with other figurative meanings (preschool; prewar; prepay: preoral; prefrontal)