pressure

pres·sure

Use pressure in a sentence

A doctor applies pressure to this bandage.

noun

Pressure is an application of force by pressing, or an urgent demand or force which can cause stress.

An example of pressure is holding a bandage firmly on an open cut.

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MLA Style

"pressure." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 October 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/Pressure>.

APA Style

pressure. (n.d.). Retrieved October 16th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/Pressure

pressure

a pressing or being pressed; compression; squeezing
a condition of distress; oppression; affliction
a sense impression caused by or as by compression of a part of the body
a compelling influence; constraining force: social pressure
demands requiring immediate attention; urgency
1. atmospheric pressure
2. blood pressure
Obs. a mark made by pressing; impression
Physics force per unit of area: abbrev. P

Origin of pressure

Old French from Classical Latin pressura, a pressing (LL(Ec), oppression, affliction) from pressus, past participle of premere, to press

transitive verb

-·sured, -·sur·ing

to exert pressure, or compelling influence, on
pressurize

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MLA Style

"pressure." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 October 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/Pressure>.

APA Style

pressure. (n.d.). Retrieved October 16th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/Pressure

pressure

noun

a. The act of pressing.
b. The condition of being pressed.
The application of continuous force by one body on another that it is touching; compression.
Abbr. P Physics Force applied uniformly over a surface, measured as force per unit area.
Meteorology Atmospheric pressure.
a. A compelling or constraining influence, such as persuasion or negative attitudes, on the mind or will: felt pressure to conform; peer-group pressure.
b. An influence acting as a source of distress or hardship: economic pressures forcing people to work two jobs.
c. Sports Sustained, effective play that puts an opponent at a disadvantage: Defensive pressure forced the quarterback to throw interceptions.
d. The condition of being subjected to physical, mental, social, or economic distress: doesn't work well under pressure.
A physical sensation produced by compression of a part of the body.
Archaic A mark made by application of force or weight; an impression.

transitive verb

pres·sured, pres·sur·ing, pres·sures

To force or try to force, as by influence or persuasion: The salesman pressured us to buy the car right away.
To pressurize.
To pressure-cook.

Origin of pressure

Middle English from Old French from Latin pressūra from pressus past participle of premere to press ; see per-⁴ in Indo-European roots.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"pressure." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 October 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/Pressure>.

APA Style

pressure. (n.d.). Retrieved October 16th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/Pressure

Noun

(countable and uncountable, plural pressures)

A pressing; a force applied to a surface.
Apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding.
A contrasting force or impulse of any kind
the pressure of poverty; the pressure of taxes; the pressure of motives on the mind; the pressure of civilization.
Distress.
She has felt pressure lately because her boss expects her to get the job done by the first.
Urgency
the pressure of business
(physics) The amount of force that is applied over a given area divided by the size of this area.