Adjacent Words

Press definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PRESS, v.t. [L.pressus.]
1. To urge with force or weight; a word of extensive use, denoting the application of any power, physical or moral, to something that is to be moved or affected. We press the ground with the feet when we walk; we press the couch on which we repose; we press substances with the hands, fingers or arms; the smith presses iron with his vise; we are pressed with the weight of arguments or of cares, troubles and business.
2. To squeeze; to crush; as, to press grapes. Genesis 40.
3. To drive with violence; to hurry; as, to press a horse in motion, or in a race.
4. To urge; to enforce; to inculcate with earnestness; as, to press divine truth on an audience.
5. To embrace closely; to hug.
Leucothoe shook
And press'd Palemon closer in her arms.
6. To force into service, particularly into naval service; to impress.
7. To straiten; to distress; as, to be pressed with want or with difficulties.
8. To constrain; to compel; to urge by authority or necessity.
The posts that rode on mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. ESther 8.
9. To urge; to impose by importunity.
He pressed a letter upon me, within this hour, to deliver to you.
10. To urge or solicit with earnestness or importunity. He pressed me to accept of his offer.
11. To urge; to constrain.
Paul was pressed in spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. Acts 18.
Wickedness pressed with conscience, forecasteth grievous things.
12. To squeeze for making smooth; as cloth or paper.
Press differs from drive and strike, in usually denoting a slow or continued application of force; whereas drive and strike denote a sudden impulse of force.
PRESS, v.i. To urge or strain in motion; to urge forward with force.
I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3.
Th' insulting victor presses on the more.
1. To bear on with force; to encroach.
On superior powers
Were we to press, inferior might on ours.
2. To bear on with force; to crowd; to throng.
Thronging crowds press on you as you pass.
3. To approach unseasonably or importunately.
Nor press too near the throne.
4. To urge with vehemence and importunity.
He pressed upon them greatly, and they turned in to him. Genesis 19.
5. To urge by influence or moral force.
When arguments press equally in matters indifferent, the safest method is to give up ourselves to neither.
6. To push with force; as, to press against the door.
PRESS, n.
1. An instrument or machine by which any body is squeezed, crushed or forced into a more compact form; as a wine-press, cider-press or cheese-press.
2. A machine for printing; a printing-press. Great improvements have been lately made in the construction of presses.
3. The art or business of printing and publishing. A free press is a great blessing to a free people; a licentious press is a curse to society.
4. A crowd; a throng; a multitude of individuals crowded together.
And when they could not come nigh to him for the press--Mark 2.
5. The act of urging or pushing forward.
Which in their throng and press to the last hold,
Confound themselves.
6. A wine-vat or cistern. Haggi 2.
7. A case of closet for the safe keeping of garments.
8. Urgency; urgent demands of affairs; as a press of business.
9. A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy; for impress.
Press of sail, in navigation, is as much sail as the state of the wind will permit.
Liberty of the press, in civil policy, is the free right of publishing books, pamphlets or papers without previous restraint; or the unrestrained right which every citizen enjoys of publishing his thoughts and opinions, subject only to punishment for publishing what is pernicious to morals or to the peace of the state.
PRESS'-BED, n. A bed that may be raised and inclosed in a case.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the state of demanding notice or attention; "the insistence of their hunger"; "the press of business matters" [syn: imperativeness, insistence, insistency, press, pressure]
2: the print media responsible for gathering and publishing news in the form of newspapers or magazines [syn: press, public press]
3: a machine used for printing [syn: press, printing press]
4: a dense crowd of people [syn: crush, jam, press]
5: a tall piece of furniture that provides storage space for clothes; has a door and rails or hooks for hanging clothes [syn: wardrobe, closet, press]
6: clamp to prevent wooden rackets from warping when not in use
7: any machine that exerts pressure to form or shape or cut materials or extract liquids or compress solids [syn: press, mechanical press]
8: a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then smoothly lifted overhead [syn: press, military press]
9: the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure; "he gave the button a press"; "he used pressure to stop the bleeding"; "at the pressing of a button" [syn: press, pressure, pressing] v
1: exert pressure or force to or upon; "He pressed down on the boards"; "press your thumb on this spot"
2: force or impel in an indicated direction; "I urged him to finish his studies" [syn: urge, urge on, press, exhort]
3: to be oppressive or burdensome; "weigh heavily on the mind", "Something pressed on his mind" [syn: weigh, press]
4: place between two surfaces and apply weight or pressure; "pressed flowers"
5: squeeze or press together; "she compressed her lips"; "the spasm contracted the muscle" [syn: compress, constrict, squeeze, compact, contract, press]
6: crowd closely; "The crowds pressed along the street"
7: create by pressing; "Press little holes into the soft clay"
8: be urgent; "This is a pressing problem"
9: exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for; "The liberal party pushed for reforms"; "She is crusading for women's rights"; "The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate" [syn: crusade, fight, press, campaign, push, agitate]
10: press from a plastic; "press a record" [syn: press, press out]
11: make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby; "`Now push hard,' said the doctor to the woman" [syn: press, push]
12: press and smooth with a heated iron; "press your shirts"; "she stood there ironing" [syn: iron, iron out, press]
13: lift weights; "This guy can press 300 pounds" [syn: weight- lift, weightlift, press]
14: ask for or request earnestly; "The prophet bid all people to become good persons" [syn: bid, beseech, entreat, adjure, press, conjure]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English presse, from Anglo-French, from presser to press Date: 13th century 1. a. a crowd or crowded condition ; throng b. a thronging or crowding forward or together 2. a. an apparatus or machine by which a substance is cut or shaped, an impression of a body is taken, a material is compressed, pressure is applied to a body, liquid is expressed, or a cutting tool is fed into the work by pressure b. a building containing presses or a business using presses 3. closet, cupboard 4. a. an action of pressing or pushing ; pressure b. an aggressive pressuring defense employed in basketball often over the entire court area 5. the properly smoothed and creased condition of a freshly pressed garment <out of press> 6. a. printing press b. the act or the process of printing c. a printing or publishing establishment 7. a. the gathering and publishing or broadcasting of news ; journalism b. newspapers, periodicals, and often radio and television news broadcasting c. news reporters, publishers, and broadcasters d. comment or notice in newspapers and periodicals <is getting a good press> 8. any of various pressure devices (as one for keeping sporting gear from warping when not in use) 9. a lift in weight lifting in which the weight is raised to shoulder height and then smoothly extended overhead without assist from the legs — compare clean and jerk, snatch II. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French presser, from Latin pressare, frequentative of premere to press; probably akin to Russian naperet' to press Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to act upon through steady pushing or thrusting force exerted in contact ; squeeze 2. a. assail, harass b. afflict, oppress 3. a. to squeeze out the juice or contents of b. to squeeze with apparatus or instruments to a desired density, smoothness, or shape 4. a. to exert influence on ; constrain b. to try hard to persuade ; beseech, entreat 5. to move by means of pressure 6. a. to lay stress or emphasis on b. to insist on or request urgently 7. to follow through (a course of action) 8. to clasp in affection or courtesy 9. to make (a phonograph record) from a matrix intransitive verb 1. to crowd closely ; mass 2. to force or push one's way 3. to seek urgently ; contend 4. to require haste or speed in action 5. to exert pressure 6. to take or hold a press 7. to employ a press in basketball • presser noun III. verb Etymology: alteration of obsolete prest to enlist by giving pay in advance Date: 1578 transitive verb 1. to force into service especially in an army or navy ; impress 2. a. to take by authority especially for public use ; commandeer b. to take and force into any usually emergency service intransitive verb to impress men as soldiers or sailors IV. noun Date: 1599 1. impressment into service especially in a navy 2. obsolete a warrant for impressing recruits

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. v. & n. --v. 1 tr. apply steady force to (a thing in contact) (press a switch; pressed the two surfaces together). 2 tr. a compress or apply pressure to a thing to flatten, shape, or smooth it, as by ironing (got the curtains pressed). b squeeze (a fruit etc.) to extract its juice. c manufacture (a gramophone record etc.) by moulding under pressure. 3 tr. (foll. by out of, from, etc.) squeeze (juice etc.). 4 tr. embrace or caress by squeezing (pressed my hand). 5 intr. (foll. by on, against, etc.) exert pressure. 6 intr. be urgent; demand immediate action (time was pressing). 7 intr. (foll. by for) make an insistent demand. 8 intr. (foll. by up, round, etc.) form a crowd. 9 intr. (foll. by on, forward, etc.) hasten insistently. 10 tr. (often in passive) (of an enemy etc.) bear heavily on. 11 tr. (often foll. by for, or to + infin.) urge or entreat (pressed me to stay; pressed me for an answer). 12 tr. (foll. by on, upon) a put forward or urge (an opinion, claim, or course of action). b insist on the acceptance of (an offer, a gift, etc.). 13 tr. insist on (did not press the point). 14 intr. (foll. by on) produce a strong mental or moral impression; oppress; weigh heavily. 15 intr. Golf try too hard for a long shot etc. and so strike the ball imperfectly. --n. 1 the act or an instance of pressing (give it a slight press). 2 a a device for compressing, flattening, shaping, extracting juice, etc. (trouser press; flower press; wine press). b a machine that applies pressure to a workpiece by means of a tool, in order to punch shapes, bend it, etc. 3 = printing-press. 4 (prec. by the) a the art or practice of printing. b newspapers, journalists, etc., generally or collectively (read it in the press; pursued by the press). 5 a notice or piece of publicity in newspapers etc. (got a good press). 6 (Press) a a printing house or establishment. b a publishing company (Athlone Press). 7 a crowding. b a crowd (of people etc.). 8 the pressure of affairs. 9 esp. Ir. & Sc. a large usu. shelved cupboard for clothes, books, etc., esp. in a recess. Phrases and idioms: at (or in) press (or the press) being printed. be pressed for have barely enough (time etc.). go (or send) to press go or send to be printed. press agent a person employed to attend to advertising and press publicity. press-box a reporters' enclosure esp. at a sports event. press the button 1 set machinery in motion. 2 colloq. take a decisive initial step. press-button adj. = push-button. press conference an interview given to journalists to make an announcement or answer questions. press gallery a gallery for reporters esp. in a legislative assembly. press-on (of a material) that can be pressed or ironed on. press release an official statement issued to newspapers for information. press-stud a small fastening device engaged by pressing its two halves together. press-up an exercise in which the prone downward-facing body is raised from the legs or trunk upwards by pressing down on the hands to straighten the arms. Etymology: ME f. OF presser, presse f. L pressare frequent. of premere press- 2. v. & n. --v.tr. 1 hist. force to serve in the army or navy. 2 bring into use as a makeshift (was pressed into service). --n. hist. compulsory enlistment esp. in the navy. Etymology: alt. f. obs. prest (v. & n.) f. OF prest loan, advance pay f. prester f. L praestare furnish (as PRAE-, stare stand)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Press Press, v. i. 1. To exert pressure; to bear heavily; to push, crowd, or urge with steady force. 2. To move on with urging and crowding; to make one's way with violence or effort; to bear onward forcibly; to crowd; to throng; to encroach. They pressed upon him for to touch him. --Mark iii. 10. 3. To urge with vehemence or importunity; to exert a strong or compelling influence; as, an argument presses upon the judgment.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Press Press, n. [F. presse. See 4th Press.] 1. An apparatus or machine by which any substance or body is pressed, squeezed, stamped, or shaped, or by which an impression of a body is taken; sometimes, the place or building containing a press or presses. Note: Presses are differently constructed for various purposes in the arts, their specific uses being commonly designated; as, a cotton press, a wine press, a cider press, a copying press, etc. See Drill press. 2. Specifically, a printing press. 3. The art or business of printing and publishing; hence, printed publications, taken collectively, more especially newspapers or the persons employed in writing for them; as, a free press is a blessing, a licentious press is a curse.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Press Press, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pressed; p. pr. & vb. n. Pressing.] [F. presser, fr. L. pressare to press, fr. premere, pressum, to press. Cf. Print, v.] 1. To urge, or act upon, with force, as weight; to act upon by pushing or thrusting, in distinction from pulling; to crowd or compel by a gradual and continued exertion; to bear upon; to squeeze; to compress; as, we press the ground with the feet when we walk; we press the couch on which we repose; we press substances with the hands, fingers, or arms; we are pressed in a crowd. Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together. --Luke vi. 38. 2. To squeeze, in order to extract the juice or contents of; to squeeze out, or express, from something. From sweet kernels pressed, She tempers dulcet creams. --Milton. And I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. --Gen. xl. 11. 3. To squeeze in or with suitable instruments or apparatus, in order to compact, make dense, or smooth; as, to press cotton bales, paper, etc.; to smooth by ironing; as, to press clothes. 4. To embrace closely; to hug. Leucothoe shook at these alarms, And pressed Palemon closer in her arms. --Pope. 5. To oppress; to bear hard upon. Press not a falling man too far. --Shak. 6. To straiten; to distress; as, to be pressed with want or hunger. 7. To exercise very powerful or irresistible influence upon or over; to constrain; to force; to compel. Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. --Acts xviii. 5. 8. To try to force (something upon some one); to urge or inculcate with earnestness or importunity; to enforce; as, to press divine truth on an audience. He pressed a letter upon me within this hour. --Dryden. Be sure to press upon him every motive. --Addison. 9. To drive with violence; to hurry; to urge on; to ply hard; as, to press a horse in a race. The posts . . . went cut, being hastened and pressed on, by the king's commandment. --Esther viii. 14. Note: Press differs from drive and strike in usually denoting a slow or continued application of force; whereas drive and strike denote a sudden impulse of force. Pressed brick. See under Brick.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Press Press, n. (Zo["o]l.) An East Indian insectivore (Tupaia ferruginea). It is arboreal in its habits, and has a bushy tail. The fur is soft, and varies from rusty red to maroon and to brownish black.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Press Press, v. t. [Corrupt. fr. prest ready money advanced, a loan; hence, earnest money given soldiers on entering service. See Prest, n.] To force into service, particularly into naval service; to impress. To peaceful peasant to the wars is pressed. --Dryden.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Press Press, n. [For prest, confused with press.] A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy. I have misused the king's press. --Shak. Press gang, or Pressgang, a detachment of seamen under the command of an officer empowered to force men into the naval service. See Impress gang, under Impress. Press money, money paid to a man enlisted into public service. See Prest money, under Prest, a.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(presses, pressing, pressed) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. If you press something somewhere, you push it firmly against something else. He pressed his back against the door... They pressed the silver knife into the cake. VERB: V n against n, V n prep 2. If you press a button or switch, you push it with your finger in order to make a machine or device work. Drago pressed a button and the door closed... VERB: V n • Press is also a noun. ...a TV which rises from a table at the press of a button. N-COUNT: usu sing 3. If you press something or press down on it, you push hard against it with your foot or hand. The engine stalled. He pressed the accelerator hard... She stood up and leaned forward with her hands pressing down on the desk. VERB: V n, V adv 4. If you press for something, you try hard to persuade someone to give it to you or to agree to it. Police might now press for changes in the law... They had pressed for their children to be taught French. = push VERB: V for n, V for n to-inf 5. If you press someone, you try hard to persuade them to do something. Trade unions are pressing him to stand firm... Mr King seems certain to be pressed for further details... She smiles coyly when pressed about her private life. VERB: V n to-inf, be V-ed for/about n, be V-ed for/about n 6. If someone presses their claim, demand, or point, they state it in a very forceful way. The protest campaign has used mass strikes and demonstrations to press its demands... VERB: V n 7. If an unpleasant feeling or worry presses on you, it affects you very much or you are always thinking about it. The weight of irrational guilt pressed on her... VERB: V on n 8. If you press something on someone, you give it to them and insist that they take it. All I had was money, which I pressed on her reluctant mother... VERB: V n on n 9. If you press clothes, you iron them in order to get rid of the creases. Vera pressed his shirt... ...clean, neatly pressed, conservative clothes. = iron VERB: V n, V-ed 10. If you press fruits or vegetables, you squeeze them or crush them, usually in order to extract the juice. The grapes are hand-picked and pressed... I pressed the juice of half a lemon into a glass of water. ...1 clove fresh garlic, pressed or diced. VERB: be V-ed, V n, V-ed 11. Newspapers are referred to as the press. Today the British press is full of articles on India's new prime minister... Press reports revealed that ozone levels in the upper atmosphere fell during the past month. N-SING-COLL: the N 12. Journalists are referred to as the press. Christie looked relaxed and calm as he faced the press afterwards... N-SING-COLL: the N 13. A press or a printing press is a machine used for printing things such as books and newspapers. N-COUNT 14. see also pressed, pressing 15. If someone or something gets a bad press, they are criticized, especially in the newspapers, on television, or on radio. If they get a good press, they are praised. ...the bad press that career women consistently get in this country... PHRASE: V inflects 16. If you press charges against someone, you make an official accusation against them which has to be decided in a court of law. I could have pressed charges against him... PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR against n 17. When a newspaper or magazine goes to press, it starts being printed. We check prices at the time of going to press... PHRASE: V inflects

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pres: As a verb is used in the Revised Version (British and American) as a translation of no less than 13 Greek and Hebrew words (rather more in the King James Version). All the Revised Version (British and American) uses are modern. In the King James Version may be noted The Wisdom of Solomon 17:11, "pressed with conscience" (the Revised Version (British and American) "pressed hard by"); 2 Macc 14:9, "pressed on every side" (the Revised Version (British and American) "surrounded by foes"); Ac 18:5, "pressed in the spirit" (the Revised Version (British and American) "constrained by"). As a noun, the King James Version uses "press" in Mr 2:4 for ochlos, "crowd" (so the Revised Version (British and American)). For wine press see VINE; WINE.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Compress, squeeze, crowd, crush. 2. Squeeze out, express. 3. Make smooth, smooth, flatten. 4. Embrace closely, hug, clasp. 5. Constrain, compel, force. 6. Enjoin, enforce, urge, inculcate. 7. Straiten, distress. II. v. n. 1. Bear heavily, exert pressure, push, bear down, crowd. 2. Hasten, hurry, push, rush. 3. Crowd, throng, force a way. 4. Approach unseasonably or importunately. 5. Encroach. III. n. 1. Machine for printing, printing-press. 2. Newspaperdom (colloq.). 3. Literary publications. 4. Crowd, throng, multitude. 5. Urgency, pressure, hurry. 6. Case, closet, wardrobe, bureau.

Moby Thesaurus

AP, Associated Press, Fleet Street, Reuters, UPI, United Press International, accelerate, advice, adviser, advocate, annex, announcer, annunciator, apply pressure, army, ask, aspirator, assault, assemble, assert, attach, authority, bear, bear against, bear down on, bear down upon, bear hard upon, bear on, bear upon, bearing, bed, beg, beseech, beset, besiege, blandish, book publishing, boost, bosom, broadcast journalism, broadcasting, brook no denial, buck, bug, bull, bulldoze, bump, bump against, bundle, bunt, bustle, butt, butt against, buttonhole, cajole, calender, call, call on, call up, call upon, call-up, channel, clamp, clamping, clamping down, clasp, cleave to, clinch, clip, cluster, clutch, coax, cohue, collect, collectivize, commandeer, communalize, communicant, communications, communications industry, communicator, communize, compact, compel, composing room, compress, compression, compulsion, compulsory military service, concentrate, condense, confiscate, congest, congregate, conscript, conscription, consolidate, constrain, constraint, contend, converge, convergence, converging, corkscrew, cram, crisis, crowbar, crowd, crowding, crunch, crush, cylinder press, deluge, demand, densen, densify, depress, detach, detach for service, dig, dispatch, distrain, draft, draft call, drafting, drive, drive on, drove, dun, elbow, embosom, embrace, emergency, enfold, enlightener, enlist, enlistment, enroll, enrollment, ensphere, entreat, exert pressure, exhort, exigency, expedite, expert witness, express, expropriate, extractor, flatbed cylinder press, flatten, flock, flood, fold, force, force upon, forceps, forward, fourth estate, galaxy, garnish, gather, gathering, goad, gossipmonger, grapevine, haste, hasten, hasten on, haul, head, heap, heave, herd, hie on, high pressure, high-pressure, horde, host, hot-press, huddle, hug, hurry, hurry along, hurry on, hurry up, hurtle, hustle, hustle up, impel, imperativeness, importune, impound, impress, impressment, impulse, impulsion, induce, induct, induction, informant, information, information center, information medium, informer, insist, insist on, insist upon, intelligence, interviewee, iron, jab, jam, jawbone, jog, joggle, join, jolt, jostle, journalism, lean on, legion, levy, lie on, list, lobby, magazine publishing, maintain, makeready, mangle, mash, mass, meet, mill, mob, mobilization, mobilize, monitor, mouthpiece, move, multitude, muster, muster in, nag, nag at, nationalize, news, news agency, news medium, news service, newsiness, newsletter, newsmagazine, newsmonger, newspaper, newsworthiness, nip, notifier, nudge, oppress, overexert, overextend, overstrain, overtax, pack, panoply, paparazzi, persist, persuade, pester, pile, pile drive, pincers, pinch, pipette, plague, platen, platen press, plead with, pliers, ply, ply upon, poke, precipitate, press association, press down, press upon, pressroom, pressure, presswork, print medium, printing machine, printing office, printing press, printshop, prod, proofroom, propel, provoke, public press, public print, public relations officer, publisher, publishers, publishing, publishing house, publishing industry, pull, pump, punch, push, push on, push through, push upon, put pressure on, quicken, rabble, rack, radio, railroad through, raise, ram, ram down, rash impulse, rattle, recommend, recruit, recruiting, recruitment, replevin, replevy, reportage, reporter, request, rest on, roll, rotary press, rotogravure press, rout, ruck, run, run against, rush, rush along, sadden, seethe, selective service, separator, sequester, sequestrate, shake, shoulder, shove, sign on, sign up, siphon, smooth, socialize, soft-soap, solidify, source, spate, speed, speed along, speed up, spokesman, spur, squab, squash, squeeze, squeezing, squish, stampede, stand on, steam, stick to, strain, strain every nerve, stress, stretch, stuff, summon, summons, swarm, sweat blood, sweet-talk, take no denial, tamp, tax, tease, telegraph agency, television, teller, tense, tension, the fourth estate, the press, throng, thronging, thrust, thrust upon, tidings, tighten, tightening, tipster, tout, tug, tweak, tweezers, urge, urge upon, urgency, vacuum pump, wad up, web, web press, weigh down, weigh on, weigh upon, wheedle, whip, whip along, wire service, witness, word, work on, wringer