compress
Compress means to press together, or to make something more compact.
(verb)An example of compress is pressing old cardboard boxes together so that they take up less space.
The definition of a compress is a thick piece of cotton or other material applied with pressure to a wound to stop the bleeding, or used to apply moisture, heat, cold or medication.
(noun)An example of a compress is an ice wrap used to reduce swelling.
See compress in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb
Origin: ME compressen < OFr compresser < LL compressare < L compressus, pp. of comprimere, to squeeze < com-, together + premere, to press
noun
- a pad of folded cloth, sometimes medicated or moistened, for applying pressure, heat, cold, etc. to some part of the body
- ☆ a machine for compressing cotton bales
Related Forms:
- compressibility noun
- compressible adjective
See compress in American Heritage Dictionary 4
transitive verb com·pressed, com·press·ing, com·press·es
- To press together: compressed her lips.
- To make more compact by or as if by pressing.
- Computer Science To transform (data) to minimize the space required for storage or transmission: compressed the file so that it could be downloaded efficiently.
- Medicine A soft pad of gauze or other material applied with pressure to a part of the body to control hemorrhage or to supply heat, cold, moisture, or medication to alleviate pain or reduce infection.
- A machine for compressing material.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English compressen
Origin: , from Old French compresser
Origin: , from Late Latin compressāre
Origin: , frequentative of Latin comprimere
Origin: : com-, com-
Origin: + premere, to press; see per-4 in Indo-European roots
.Learn more about compress
