to act upon with steadily applied weight or force.
to move by weight or force in a certain direction or into a certain position: The crowd pressed him into a corner.
to compress or squeeze, as to alter in shape or size: He pressed the clay into a ball.
to weigh heavily upon; subject to pressure.
to hold closely, as in an embrace; clasp: He pressed her in his arms.
to flatten or make smooth, especially by ironing: to press clothes; to press flowers in the leaves of a book.
to extract juice, sugar, etc., from by pressure: to press grapes.
to squeeze out or express, as juice: to press the juice from grapes.
to beset or harass; afflict: He was pressed by problems on all sides.
to trouble or oppress; put into a difficult position, as by depriving: Poverty pressed them hard.
to urge or entreat strongly or insistently: to press for payment of a debt; to press for an answer.
to emphasize or propound forcefully; insist upon: He pressed his own ideas on us.
to plead with insistence: to press a claim.
to urge onward; hasten: He pressed his horse to go faster.
to push forward.
verb (used without object)
to manufacture (phonograph records, videodiscs, or the like), especially by stamping from a mold or matrix.
to exert weight, force, or pressure.
Weightlifting. to raise or lift, especially a specified amount of weight, in a press.
to iron clothing, curtains, etc.
to bear heavily, as upon the mind.
(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.
to compel haste: Time presses.
to demand immediate attention.
to use urgent entreaty: to press for an answer.
to push forward or advance with force, eagerness, or haste: The army pressed to reach the river by dawn.
to crowd or throng.
Basketball. to employ a press.
noun
an act of pressing; pressure.
the state of being pressed.
printed publications collectively, especially newspapers and periodicals.
all the media and agencies that print, broadcast, or gather and transmit news, including newspapers, newsmagazines, radio and television news bureaus, and wire services.
the editorial employees, taken collectively, of these media and agencies.
(often used with a plural verb) a group of news reporters, or of news reporters and news photographers: The press are in the outer office, waiting for a statement.
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.
printing press.
an establishment for printing books, magazines, etc.
the process or art of printing.
any of various devices or machines for exerting pressure, stamping, or crushing.
a wooden or metal viselike device for preventing a tennis or other racket from warping when not in use.
a pressing or pushing forward.
a crowding, thronging, or pressing together; collective force: The press of the crowd drove them on.
a crowd, throng, or multitude.
the desired smooth or creased effect caused by ironing or pressing: His suit was out of press.
pressure or urgency, as of affairs or business.
an upright case or other piece of furniture for holding clothes, books, pamphlets, etc.
Basketball. an aggressive form of defense in which players guard opponents very closely.
Weightlifting. 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 for press
go to press, to begin being printed: The last edition has gone to press.
press the flesh, Informal. flesh (def. 24).
Origin of press
1
1175–1225; (noun) Middle English press(e) throng, company, trouble, machine for pressing, clothespress <Old French, derivative of presser to press <Latin pressāre, frequentative of premere (past participle pressus) to press (compare rare Old English press clothespress <Medieval Latin pressa, noun use of feminine of pressus); (v.) Middle English pressen (<Old French presser) <Latin pressāre, as above
Apple has removed the ability of the watch to sense deep presses on the screen, a feature it called 3D Touch on all previous models.
Apple Watch Series 6 first impressions: A stretchy addition looks great|Aaron Pressman|September 17, 2020|Fortune
Still, a lightning storm of 11,000 lightning strikes struck the San Francisco Bay Area in mid-august and ignited over 367 new fires, says Cal Fire’s division chief Jeremy Rahn in a press release.
West Coast wildfire smoke is visible from outer space|María Paula Rubiano A.|September 16, 2020|Popular Science
Navigating your phone and typingA long press on any app icon on the home screen on Android or iOS will reveal some useful time-saving shortcuts.
Get around your phone more quickly than you already are|David Nield|September 16, 2020|Popular Science
As of press time, here is a guide to some of the LGBTQ programs that are on the calendar.
Fall TV season brings handful of queer shows|Brian T. Carney|September 16, 2020|Washington Blade
At a press conference Friday, the Union-Tribune reports, Assemblyman Todd Gloria urged the city to investigate what happened and urged NBC 7 to be transparent about its own efforts to understand how it got duped.
Morning Report: Oceanside Reboots Top Cop Search|Voice of San Diego|September 14, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Sadly, it appears the American press often doesn't need any outside help when it comes to censoring themselves.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This time it would be the biggest mistake for the Western press to repeat that—absolutely the biggest mistake.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive|Ayaan Hirsi Ali|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the most important point I want to make is about what the press does now.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive|Ayaan Hirsi Ali|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
At a press conference today with Scalise, Speaker Boehner again defended him.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Boyce was asked at a press conference if Polanco went peacefully.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Would not that indefinite expression, the liberty of the press, extend to the justification of every possible publication?
A Collection of Essays and Fugitiv Writings|Noah Webster
The attempt to fix certain opinions on the nation which were pleasing Liberty of the press.
And he began to flourish it over his head, and to press nearer and nearer.
The Gold Thread|Norman MacLeod
This time public rage and dissatisfaction was more intensified than ever, and the Press was outspoken.
The Secrets of a Kuttite|Edward O. Mousley
Here, beyond doubt, the Jason press had produced a powerful impression.
The Blue Germ|Martin Swayne
British Dictionary definitions for press (1 of 2)
press1
/ (prɛs) /
verb
to apply or exert weight, force, or steady pressure onhe pressed the button on the camera
(tr)to squeeze or compress so as to alter in shape or form
to apply heat or pressure to (clothing) so as to smooth out or mark with creases; iron
to make (objects) from soft material by pressing with a mould, form, etc, esp to make gramophone records from plastic
(tr)to hold tightly or clasp, as in an embrace
(tr)to extract or force out (juice) by pressure (from)
(tr)weightliftingto lift (a weight) successfully with a presshe managed to press 280 pounds
(tr)to force, constrain, or compel
to importune or entreat (a person) insistently; urgethey pressed for an answer
to harass or cause harassment
(tr)to plead or put forward strongly or importunatelyto press a claim
(intr)to be urgent
(tr; usually passive)to have little ofwe're hard pressed for time
(when intr, often foll by on or forward) to hasten or advance or cause to hasten or advance in a forceful manner
(intr)to crowd; throng; push
(tr)(formerly) to put to death or subject to torture by placing heavy weights upon
(tr)archaicto trouble or oppress
press chargesto bring charges against a person
noun
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
See printing press
the art or process of printing
at the pressorin the pressbeing printed
to pressorto the pressto be printedwhen is this book going to press?
the press
news media and agencies collectively, esp newspapers
(as modifier)a press matter; press relations
the pressthose who work in the news media, esp newspaper reporters and photographers
the opinions and reviews in the newspapers, etcthe play received a poor press
the act of pressing or state of being pressed
the act of crowding, thronging, or pushing together
a closely packed throng of people; crowd; multitude
urgency or hurry in business affairs
a cupboard, esp a large one used for storing clothes or linen
a wood or metal clamp or vice to prevent tennis rackets, etc, from warping when not in use
weightliftinga lift in which the weight is raised to shoulder level and then above the head
Word Origin for press
C14 pressen, from Old French presser, from Latin pressāre, from premere to press
British Dictionary definitions for press (2 of 2)
press2
/ (prɛs) /
verb(tr)
to recruit (men) by forcible measures for military service
to use for a purpose other than intended, (esp in the phrase press into service)
noun
recruitment into military service by forcible measures, as by a press gang
Word Origin for press
C16: back formation from prest to recruit soldiers; see prest ²; also influenced by press1