press
//pɹɛs//
Forms
- Plural
- presses
- present (v1)
- press
- past (v2)
- pressed
- past participle (v3)
- pressed
- present participle
- pressing
- 3rd person singular
- presses
Definitions
1.A device used to apply pressure to an item.
- I want to talk to the press.
2.A crowd.
- The press in the square grew. Something would happen now.
- And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
- Imagine the press of humanity in a crowded Parisian brasserie, circa the era when Lagerfeld would have been patronizing such joints.
3.A printing machine.
- That books are pouring off the world’s presses at unprecedented rates is a fact often alluded to as a flood that is inundating libraries and the book trades.
4.An instance of applying pressure; an instance of pressing.
- Connecting to the service is almost idiot proof and takes just a few button presses.
1.To exert weight or force against, to act upon with force or weight; to exert pressure upon.
2.To activate a button or key by exerting a downward or forward force on it, and then releasing it.
3.To compress, squeeze.
4.To clasp, hold in an embrace.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #814
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Word family
Etymology
From Middle English presse (“throng, crowd, clothespress”), partially from Old English press (“clothespress”) (from Medieval Latin pressa) and from Old French presse (Modern French presse) from Old French presser (“to press”), from Latin pressāre, from pressus, past participle of premere (“to press”).