pressurizev.
/ˈprɛʃərʌɪz/, U.S. /ˈprɛʃəˌraɪz/ 1. transitive. To produce or maintain pressure artificially in (a container, closed space, etc.); spec. to maintain a close-to-normal atmospheric pressure in (an aircraft cabin) at high altitudes. Also: to apply pressure to, to increase pressure in.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > gas > air > [verb (transitive)] > compress, etc. (air, gas, or container)
compressa1676
recompress1873
decompress1905
pressurize1940
depressurize1944
repressurize1947
pressure1961
1940 [see pressurizing adj. and n. at Derivatives].
1944 Aeronautics Sept. 56/2 The fuselage will be pressurized so that at all altitudes cabin conditions will be equivalent to a height of 8,000 ft.
1958 Times 25 Jan. 9/2 This machine consists of a small electric compressor pump, which pressurizes the container to a pressure of 80 lb. to the square inch.
1972 Daily Tel. 11 Dec. 15/6 We returned from our first drive, pressurised the lunar module cabin and took our helmets off.
1991 New Scientist 21 Sept. 42/1 This instrument pressurises the sample until water is squeezed out of the xylem.
2002 Pop. Sci. Nov. 68/1 (caption) Airflow enters scramjet after flowing up the forebody, which pressurizes air.
2. transitive. To subject to moral, psychological, or other non-physical pressure; to put pressure on; to coerce, influence, or urge. Frequently with infinitive. Cf. pressure v. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > pressurize
to put (also bring, exert) pressure on1853
squeeze1888
pressure1911
high-pressure1925
to put the lug on1929
to put the squeeze on1941
pressurize1945
to turn the heat on1957
to lean on1960
1945 Lima (Ohio) News 17 Jan. 3/1 Thus, selective service continues to ‘pressurize’ recalcitrant military unfits into war plants.
1956 Ess. in Crit. 6 238 The best poems..have all these qualities together with a strict sense of form that pressurizes the colloquial idiom.
1964 Listener 26 Nov. 859/2 This is the move which concedes the initiative, since White is now able to gain space and pressurize the black squares on the king's side.
1978 Guardian Weekly 30 Apr. 15/3 U.S. officials are pressurising the Saudis to increase production capacity.
1993 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 4 Mar. 36/3 A statement that all European nations should continue to pressurize Iran on the fatwa.
2002 K. Matinuddin Nuclearization S. Asia iv. 91 Zia was also pressurized by the United States to roll back the nuclear weapons programme.
Derivatives
ˈpressurizing adj. and n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [noun] > pressure
pressure1625
arm-twisting1924
pressurizing1940
pressurization1963
1940 Freeport (Illinois) Jrnl.-Standard 19 Mar. 2/3 The pressurizing mechanism maintains ideal weather within this passenger chamber.
1976 J. M. Kelly Stud. Civil Judicature Roman Republ. v. 130 The pressurizing of the defendant into surrendering the plaintiff's property.
2003 C. W. Bamforth Beer 66 Introduction of these high levels of CO2 demands the pressurizing of beer.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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v.1940