English
press
Pronunciation
  • (British, America) IPA: /pɹɛs/
Noun

press

  1. (countable) A device used to apply pressure to an item.
    a flower press
  2. (countable) A printing machine.
    Stop the presses!
  3. (uncountable) A collective term for the print-based media (both the people and the newspapers).
    according to a member of the press;  This article appeared in the press.
  4. (countable) A publisher.
  5. (countable, especially in Ireland and Scotland) An enclosed storage space (e.g. closet, cupboard).
    Put the cups in the press.  Put the ironing in the linen press.
    • 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], OCLC 752825175 ↗:
      But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. ¶ […] The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window at the old mare feeding in the meadow below by the brook, and a 'bead' could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge, […].
  6. (countable, weightlifting) An exercise in which weight is forced away from the body by extension of the arms or legs.
    • 1974, Charles Gaines & George Butler, Pumping Iron: The Art and Sport of Bodybuilding, p.22:
      This is the fourth set of benchpresses. There will be five more; then there will be five sets of presses on an inclined bench […].
  7. (countable, wagering) An additional bet in a golf match that duplicates an existing (usually losing) wager in value, but begins even at the time of the bet.
    He can even the match with a press.
  8. (countable) Pure, unfermented grape juice.
    I would like some Concord press with my meal tonight.
  9. A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy.
    • c. 1597, William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act IV, scene ii]:
      I have misused the king's press.
  10. (obsolete) A crowd.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Luke 19:3 ↗:
      And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations Translations Verb

press (presses, present participle pressing; past and past participle pressed)

  1. (ambitransitive) to exert weight or force against, to act upon with force or weight
  2. (transitive) to compress, squeeze
    to press fruit for the purpose of extracting the juice
  3. (transitive) to clasp, hold in an embrace; to hug
    She took her son, and press'd
    The illustrious infant to her fragrant breast (Dryden, Illiad, VI. 178.)
  4. (transitive) to reduce to a particular shape or form by pressure, especially flatten or smooth
    to press cloth with an iron
    to press a hat
  5. (transitive, sewing) To flatten a selected area of fabric using an iron with an up-and-down, not sliding, motion, so as to avoid disturbing adjacent areas.
  6. (transitive) to drive or thrust by pressure, to force in a certain direction
    to press a crowd back
  7. (transitive, obsolete) to weigh upon, oppress, trouble
    He turns from us;
    Alas, he weeps too! Something presses him
    He would reveal, but dare not.-Sir, be comforted. (Fletcher, Pilgrim, I. 2.)
  8. (transitive) to force to a certain end or result; to urge strongly, impel
    • 1726 October 27, [Jonathan Swift], chapter VIII, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: Printed for Benj[amin] Motte, […], OCLC 995220039 ↗, part III (A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdribb, Luggnagg, and Japan):
      The two gentlemen who conducted me to the island were pressed by their private affairs to return in three days.
  9. To try to force (something upon someone); to urge or inculcate.
    to press the Bible on an audience
    • He pressed a letter upon me within this hour.
    • 1713, Joseph Addison, Cato, published 1712, [Act 1, scene 1]:
      Be sure to press upon him every motive.
  10. (transitive) to hasten, urge onward
    to press a horse in a race
  11. (transitive) to urge, beseech, entreat
    God heard their prayers, wherein they earnestly pressed him for the honor of his great name. (Winthrop, Hist. New England, II. 35)
  12. (transitive) to lay stress upon, emphasize
    If we read but a very little, we naturally want to press it all; if we read a great deal, we are willing not to press the whole of what we read, and we learn what ought to be pressed and what not. (M. Arnold, Literature and Dogma, Pref.)
  13. (ambitransitive) to throng, crowd
  14. (transitive, obsolete) to print
  15. To force into service, particularly into naval service.
    • To peaceful peasant to the wars is pressed.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations

This text is extracted from the Wiktionary and it is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license | Terms and conditions | Privacy policy 0.003
Offline English dictionary