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’.