First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1press
noun \ˈpres\
Definition of PRESS
1
a : a crowd or crowded condition : throng b : a thronging or crowding forward or together
2
4
a : an action of pressing or pushing : pressure b : an aggressive pressuring defense employed in basketball often over the entire court area
5
: the properly smoothed and creased condition of a freshly pressed garment <out of press>
6
a : printing press b : the act or the process of printing c : a printing or publishing establishment
7
a : the gathering and publishing or broadcasting of news : journalism b : newspapers, periodicals, and often radio and television news broadcasting c : news reporters, publishers, and broadcasters d : comment or notice in newspapers and periodicals <is getting a good press>
8
: any of various pressure devices (as one for keeping sporting gear from warping when not in use)
9
: a lift in weight lifting in which the weight is raised to shoulder height and then smoothly extended overhead without assist from the legs — compare clean and jerk, snatch
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Origin of PRESS
Middle English presse, from Anglo-French, from presser to press
2press
verb
Definition of PRESS
transitive verb
1
: to act upon through steady pushing or thrusting force exerted in contact : squeeze
3
a : to squeeze out the juice or contents of b : to squeeze with apparatus or instruments to a desired density, smoothness, or shape
5
: to move by means of pressure
6
a : to lay stress or emphasis on b : to insist on or request urgently
7
: to follow through (a course of action)
8
: to clasp in affection or courtesy
9
: to make (a phonograph record) from a matrix
intransitive verb
1
: to crowd closely : mass
2
: to force or push one's way
3
: to seek urgently : contend
4
: to require haste or speed in action
5
: to exert pressure
6
: to take or hold a press
7
: to employ a press in basketball
— press the flesh
: to greet and shake hands with people especially while campaigning for political office
Origin of PRESS
Middle English, from Anglo-French presser, from Latin pressare, frequentative of premere to press; probably akin to Russian naperet' to press
First Known Use: 14th century
3press
verb
Definition of PRESS
transitive verb
1
: to force into service especially in an army or navy : impress
2
a : to take by authority especially for public use : commandeer b : to take and force into any usually emergency service
intransitive verb
: to impress men as soldiers or sailors
Origin of PRESS
alteration of obsolete prest to enlist by giving pay in advance
First Known Use: 1578
4press
noun
Definition of PRESS
1
: impressment into service especially in a navy
2
obsolete : a warrant for impressing recruits
First Known Use of PRESS
1599
PRESSED Defined for Kids
1press
verb \ˈpres\
pressedpress·ing
Definition of PRESS for Kids
1
: to push steadily against <Press the button.>
2
: to ask or urge strongly <I did not press her to explain. — Katherine Paterson, Jacob Have I Loved>
3
: to move forward forcefully <A crowd pressed toward the gate.>
4
: to squeeze so as to force out the juice or contents <press apples>
5
: to flatten out or smooth by bearing down upon especially by ironing <press clothes>
2press
noun
Definition of PRESS for Kids
2
: a machine that uses pressure to shape, flatten, squeeze, or stamp
3
: the act of pressing : pressure <the press of a button>
4
: a printing or publishing business
5
: the newspapers and magazines of a country
6
: news reporters and broadcasters
7
8
: closet
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