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press

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To press is defined as to push or apply steady force or squeeze.

(verb)

An example of to press is pushing a button on a blender to make it start.
An example of to press is ironing wrinkles out of a shirt.
An example of to press is to squeeze the juice out of grapes to make wine.

Press is a machine that uses pressure to print or squeeze, or a person or business involved with news or media.

(noun)

An example of a press is a printing press.
An example of the press is The Washington Post.

See press in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to act on with steady force or weight; push steadily against; squeeze
to depress or touch (a button, key, etc.) as in using an elevator, keyboard, etc.
1. to extract juice, etc. from by squeezing
2. to squeeze (juice, etc.) out
1. to squeeze for the purpose of making smooth, compact, etc.; compress
2. to iron (clothes, etc.), esp. with a heavy iron or steam machine
to embrace closely
to force; compel; constrain
to urge or request earnestly or persistently; entreat; importune
to impose by persistent entreaty; try to force: to press a gift on a friend
to lay stress on; be insistent about; emphasize
to distress or trouble; harass
to urge on; drive quickly
to shape (a phonograph record, metal or plastic products, etc.) by use of a form or matrix
Archaic to crowd; throng
Obsolete oppress

Origin: ME pressen < MFr presser < L pressare, freq. of premere, to press < IE base *per-, to strike > OSlav p'rati, to strike

intransitive verb

to exert pressure; specif.,
1. to weigh down; bear heavily
2. to go forward with energetic or determined effort
3. to force one's way
4. to crowd; throng
5. to be urgent or insistent
6. to try too hard: he strikes out often because he is pressing
to react to being pressed, or ironed: this fabric presses well
to iron clothes, etc.

noun

a pressing or being pressed; pressure, urgency, etc.
a crowd; throng
an instrument or machine by which something is crushed, squeezed, stamped, smoothed, etc. by pressure
a viselike device in which a tennis racket, etc. can be stored to keep it from warping
the condition of clothes as to smoothness, creases, etc. after pressing
1. printing press
2. a printing or publishing establishment
3. the art, business, or practice of printing
4. newspapers, magazines, news services, etc. in general, or the persons who write for them; journalism or journalists
5. publicity, criticism, etc. in newspapers, magazines, etc.: to receive a bad press
an upright closet in which clothes or other articles are kept
☆ Basketball a defensive tactic in which offensive players are guarded very closely, usually over the full court
Weight Lifting a lift in which the barbell or weight is pushed away from the body using the arms or legs

transitive verb

to force into military or naval service; impress
to force or urge into any kind of service
to use in a way different from the ordinary, esp. in an emergency

Origin: altered (infl. by press) < obs prest, to enlist for military service by advance pay < OFr prester < L praestare, to vouch for, warrant < praes, surety (< prae-, pre- + vas, bail, surety: for IE base see wed) + stare, to stand

noun

an impressment, or forcing into service, esp. naval or military service
Obsolete an order for impressing recruits

See press in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb pressed, press·ing, press·es

verb, transitive

To exert steady weight or force against; bear down on.
a. To squeeze the juice or other contents from.
b. To extract (juice, for example) by squeezing or compressing.
a. To reshape or make compact by applying steady force; compress.
b. To iron (clothing, for example).
To clasp in fondness or politeness.
To try to influence, as by insistent arguments; importune or entreat: He pressed her for a reply.
To urge or force to action; impel.
To place in trying or distressing circumstances; harass or oppress.
To move (keys on a computer keyboard, for example) by applying pressure.
To lay stress on; emphasize.
To advance or carry on vigorously: “Far from backing down, he pressed the attack” (Justin Kaplan).
To put forward importunately or insistently: press an argument.
To make (a phonograph record or videodisc) from a mold or matrix.
Sports To lift (a weight) to a position above the head without moving the legs.

verb, intransitive

To exert force or pressure.
To weigh heavily, as on the mind.
To advance eagerly; push forward.
To require haste; be urgent.
To iron clothes or other material.
To assemble closely and in large numbers; crowd.
To employ urgent persuasion or entreaty.
Sports To raise or lift a weight in a press.
Basketball To employ a press.

noun

Any of various machines or devices that apply pressure.
Any of various machines used for printing; a printing press.
A place or establishment where matter is printed.
The art, method, or business of printing.
a. The collecting and publishing or broadcasting of news; journalism in general.
b. The entirety of media and agencies that collect, publish, transmit, or broadcast the news.
c. The people involved in the media, as news reporters, photographers, publishers, and broadcasters.
d. Commentary or coverage especially in print media: “Like the pool hall and the tattoo parlor, the motorcycle usually gets a bad press” (R.Z. Sheppard).
The act of gathering in large numbers or of pushing forward.
A large gathering; a throng. See Synonyms at crowd¹.
a. The act of applying pressure.
b. The state of being pressed.
The haste or urgency of business or matters.
The set of proper creases in a garment or fabric, formed by ironing.
Chiefly Northeastern U.S. An upright closet or case used for storing clothing, books, or other articles.
A viselike device for keeping a racket from warping.
Sports A lift in weightlifting in which the weight is raised to shoulder level and then steadily pushed straight overhead without movement of the legs.
Basketball An aggressive defense tactic in which players guard opponents closely, often over the entire court.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English pressen

Origin: , from Old French presser

Origin: , from Latin pressāre

Origin: , frequentative of premere, to press; see per-⁴ in Indo-European roots

transitive verb pressed, press·ing, press·es

To force into service in the army or navy; impress.
a. To take arbitrarily or by force, especially for public use.
b. To use in a manner different from the usual or intended, especially in an emergency.

noun