Press (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

verb (used with object)
  1. to act upon with steadily applied weight or force.
  2. to move by weight or force in a certain direction or into a certain position: The crowd pressed him into a corner.
  3. to compress or squeeze, as to alter in shape or size: He pressed the clay into a ball.
  4. to weigh heavily upon; subject to pressure.
  5. to hold closely, as in an embrace; clasp: He pressed her in his arms.
  6. to flatten or make smooth, especially by ironing: to press clothes;to press flowers in the leaves of a book.
  7. to extract juice, sugar, etc., from by pressure: to press grapes.
  8. to squeeze out or express, as juice: to press the juice from grapes.
  9. to beset or harass; afflict: He was pressed by problems on all sides.
  10. to trouble or oppress; put into a difficult position, as by depriving: Poverty pressed them hard.
  11. to urge or entreat strongly or insistently: He pressed his parents to take him along. The interviewer pressed her for an explanation.
  12. to emphasize or propound forcefully; insist upon: He pressed his own ideas on us.
  13. to plead or pursue with insistence: The union’s shop steward pressed a complaint on the employee’s behalf.
  14. to urge onward; hasten: He pressed his horse to go faster.
  15. to push forward.
verb (used without object)
  1. to manufacture (phonograph records, videodiscs, or the like), especially by stamping from a mold or matrix.
  2. to exert weight, force, or pressure.
  3. to raise or lift, especially a specified amount of weight, in a press.
  4. to iron clothing, curtains, etc.
  5. to bear heavily, as upon the mind.
  6. (of athletes and competitors) to perform tensely or overanxiously, as when one feels pressured or is determined to break out of a slump; strain because of frustration: For days he hasn't seemed able to buy a hit, and he's been pressing.
  7. to compel haste: Time presses.
  8. to demand immediate attention.
  9. to use urgent entreaty: to press for an answer.
  10. to push forward or advance with force, eagerness, or haste: The army pressed to reach the river by dawn.
  11. to crowd or throng.
  12. to employ a press.
noun
  1. an act of pressing; pressure.
  2. the state of being pressed.
  3. printed publications collectively, especially newspapers and periodicals.
  4. all the media and agencies that print, broadcast, or gather and transmit news, including newspapers, newsmagazines, radio and television news bureaus, and wire services.
  5. the editorial employees, taken collectively, of these media and agencies.
  6. a group of news reporters, or of news reporters and news photographers: The press are in the outer office, waiting for a statement.
  7. the consensus of the general critical commentary or the amount of coverage accorded a person, thing, or event, especially in newspapers and periodicals (often preceded by good or bad): The play received a good press.The minister's visit got a bad press.
  8. printing press.
  9. an establishment for printing books, magazines, etc.
  10. the process or art of printing.
  11. any of various devices or machines for exerting pressure, stamping, or crushing.
  12. a wooden or metal viselike device for preventing a tennis or other racket from warping when not in use.
  13. a pressing or pushing forward.
  14. a crowding, thronging, or pressing together; collective force: The press of the crowd drove them on.
  15. a crowd, throng, or multitude.
  16. the desired smooth or creased effect caused by ironing or pressing: His suit was out of press.
  17. pressure or urgency, as of affairs or business.
  18. an upright case or other piece of furniture for holding clothes, books, pamphlets, etc.
  19. an aggressive form of defense in which players guard opponents very closely.
  20. a lift in which the barbell, after having been lifted from the ground up to chest level, is pushed to a position overhead with the arms extended straight up, without moving the legs or feet.
Idioms
  1. to begin being printed: The last edition has gone to press.
  2. See entry at press charges.
  3. flesh (def. 24).
verb (used with object)
  1. to force into service, especially naval or military service; impress.
  2. to make use of in a manner different from that intended or desired: French taxis were pressed into service as troop transports.
noun
  1. impressment into service, especially naval or military service.
noun
  1. a male given name.
verb
  1. to apply or exert weight, force, or steady pressure on
  2. to squeeze or compress so as to alter in shape or form
  3. to apply heat or pressure to (clothing) so as to smooth out or mark with creases; iron
  4. to make (objects) from soft material by pressing with a mould, form, etc, esp to make gramophone records from plastic
  5. to hold tightly or clasp, as in an embrace
  6. to extract or force out (juice) by pressure (from)
  7. to lift (a weight) successfully with a press
  8. to force, constrain, or compel
  9. to importune or entreat (a person) insistently; urge
  10. to harass or cause harassment
  11. to plead or put forward strongly or importunately
  12. to be urgent
  13. to have little of
  14. to hasten or advance or cause to hasten or advance in a forceful manner
  15. to crowd; throng; push
  16. (formerly) to put to death or subject to torture by placing heavy weights upon
  17. to trouble or oppress
  18. to bring charges against a person
noun
  1. any machine that exerts pressure to form, shape, or cut materials or to extract liquids, compress solids, or hold components together while an adhesive joint is formed
  2. See printing press
  3. the art or process of printing
  4. being printed
  5. to be printed
  6. the press
    • news media and agencies collectively, esp newspapers
    • (as modifier)
  7. those who work in the news media, esp newspaper reporters and photographers
  8. the opinions and reviews in the newspapers, etc
  9. the act of pressing or state of being pressed
  10. the act of crowding, thronging, or pushing together
  11. a closely packed throng of people; crowd; multitude
  12. urgency or hurry in business affairs
  13. a cupboard, esp a large one used for storing clothes or linen
  14. a wood or metal clamp or vice to prevent tennis rackets, etc, from warping when not in use
  15. a lift in which the weight is raised to shoulder level and then above the head
verb (tr)
  1. to recruit (men) by forcible measures for military service
  2. to use for a purpose other than intended, (esp in the phrase press into service)
noun
  1. recruitment into military service by forcible measures, as by a press gang
Press (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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