press

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

(verb)

  1. An example of to press is pushing a button on a blender to make it start.
  2. An example of to press is ironing wrinkles out of a shirt.
  3. 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)

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

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See press in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

  1. to act on with steady force or weight; push steadily against; squeeze
  2. 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
  3. to embrace closely
  4. to force; compel; constrain
  5. to urge or request earnestly or persistently; entreat; importune
  6. to impose by persistent entreaty; try to force: to press a gift on a friend
  7. to lay stress on; be insistent about; emphasize
  8. to distress or trouble; harass
  9. to urge on; drive quickly
  10. to shape (a phonograph record, metal or plastic products, etc.) by use of a form or matrix
  11. Archaic to crowd; throng
  12. 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

  1. 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
  2. to react to being pressed, or ironed: this fabric presses well
  3. to iron clothes, etc.

noun

  1. a pressing or being pressed; pressure, urgency, etc.
  2. a crowd; throng
  3. an instrument or machine by which something is crushed, squeezed, stamped, smoothed, etc. by pressure
  4. a viselike device in which a tennis racket, etc. can be stored to keep it from warping
  5. 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
  6. an upright closet in which clothes or other articles are kept
  7. Basketball a defensive tactic in which offensive players are guarded very closely, usually over the full court
  8. Weight Lifting a lift in which the barbell or weight is pushed away from the body using the arms or legs

transitive verb

  1. to force into military or naval service; impress
  2. to force or urge into any kind of service
  3. 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

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

See press in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb pressed, press·ing, press·es
verb, transitive
  1. To exert steady weight or force against; bear down on.
  2. a. To squeeze the juice or other contents from.
    b. To extract (juice, for example) by squeezing or compressing.
  3. a. To reshape or make compact by applying steady force; compress.
    b. To iron (clothing, for example).
  4. To clasp in fondness or politeness.
  5. To try to influence, as by insistent arguments; importune or entreat: He pressed her for a reply.
  6. To urge or force to action; impel.
  7. To place in trying or distressing circumstances; harass or oppress.
  8. To move (keys on a computer keyboard, for example) by applying pressure.
  9. To lay stress on; emphasize.
  10. To advance or carry on vigorously: “Far from backing down, he pressed the attack” (Justin Kaplan).
  11. To put forward importunately or insistently: press an argument.
  12. To make (a phonograph record or videodisc) from a mold or matrix.
  13. Sports To lift (a weight) to a position above the head without moving the legs.
verb, intransitive
  1. To exert force or pressure.
  2. To weigh heavily, as on the mind.
  3. To advance eagerly; push forward.
  4. To require haste; be urgent.
  5. To iron clothes or other material.
  6. To assemble closely and in large numbers; crowd.
  7. To employ urgent persuasion or entreaty.
  8. Sports To raise or lift a weight in a press.
  9. Basketball To employ a press.
noun
  1. Any of various machines or devices that apply pressure.
  2. Any of various machines used for printing; a printing press.
  3. A place or establishment where matter is printed.
  4. The art, method, or business of printing.
  5. 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).
  6. The act of gathering in large numbers or of pushing forward.
  7. A large gathering; a throng. See Synonyms at crowd1.
  8. a. The act of applying pressure.
    b. The state of being pressed.
  9. The haste or urgency of business or matters.
  10. The set of proper creases in a garment or fabric, formed by ironing.
  11. Chiefly Northeastern U.S. An upright closet or case used for storing clothing, books, or other articles.
  12. A viselike device for keeping a racket from warping.
  13. 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.
  14. 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

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transitive verb pressed, press·ing, press·es
  1. To force into service in the army or navy; impress.
  2. 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
  1. Conscription or impressment into service, especially into the army or navy.
  2. Obsolete An official warrant for impressing men into military service.

Origin:

Origin: Alteration of obsolete prest, to hire for military service by advance payment

Origin: , from Middle English, enlistment money, loan

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from prester, to lend

Origin: , from Medieval Latin praestāre

Origin: , from Latin, to furnish

Origin: , from praestō, present, at hand; see ghes- in Indo-European roots

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