press1
v.
- move or cause to move into a position of contact with something by exerting continuous physical force.
▸exert continuous physical force on, especially in order to operate a device.
▸squeeze (someone's arm or hand) as a sign of affection.
▸move in a specified direction by pushing.
▸
(press on/ahead)
continue in one's action.
- apply pressure to (something) to flatten, shape, or smooth it, especially by ironing.
▸extract (juice or oil) by crushing or squeezing fruit, vegetables, etc.
▸manufacture by moulding under pressure.
- forcefully put forward (an opinion, claim, etc.).
▸make strong efforts to persuade or force to do something.
▸
(press something on/upon)
insist that (someone) accepts an offer or gift.
▸(of time) be short.
▸
(be pressed)
have barely enough of something, especially time.
▸
(be pressed to do something)
have difficulty doing something.
- Weightlifting raise (a weight) by lifting it to shoulder height and then gradually pushing it upwards.
- Golf try too hard to achieve distance.
n.
- a device for applying pressure in order to flatten or shape something or to extract juice or oil.
- a printing press.
▸a printing or publishing business.
-
(the press)
[treated as sing. or pl.]
newspapers or journalists viewed collectively.
▸coverage in newspapers and magazines.
- an act of pressing something.
▸a closely packed mass of people or things.
▸dated pressure of business.
▸Basketball a form of close guarding by the defending team.
- a large cupboard for storing linen or clothes.
Phrase
- go to press
go to be printed. - press
(the)
flesh
informal, chiefly N. Amer. greet people by shaking hands.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. presse (n.), presser (v.), from L. pressare ‘keep pressing’, frequentative of premere.
press2
v.
-
(press something into)
put something to a specified use, especially as a temporary or makeshift measure.
- historical force to enlist in the army or navy.
n.
historical a forcible enlistment of men, especially for the navy.
Etymology
C16: alt. (by assoc. with press1) of obs. prest ‘pay given on enlistment, enlistment by such payment’, from OFr. prest ‘loan, advance pay’, based on L. praestare ‘provide’.