press

plural presses

1. countableuncountableAn instance of applying pressure; an instance of pressing.

   Connecting to the service is almost idiot proof and takes just a few button presses.

   2004 10, “Maximum PC”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), page 25

   1 more example

   a slaloming winger putting lumpen defenders on their backsides, or even a sneaky centre-forward, using his boundless energy to lead the press and force mistakes.

   2020 August 7, Jonathan Liew, “Phil Foden stars to offer Manchester City glimpse of multiple futures”, in The Guardian

2. countableA device used to apply pressure to an item.

   a flower press

   1 more example

   a cheese press

3. uncountableA crowd.

   The press in the square grew. Something would happen now.

   1962, Olivia Manning, The Spoilt City; republished as The Balkan Trilogy, 1990, →ISBN, page 327

   2 more examples

   And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 19:3

   Imagine the press of humanity in a crowded Parisian brasserie, circa the era when Lagerfeld would have been patronizing such joints.

   2015 March 10, Tim Banks, “Chanel Fall 2015 Ready-to-Wear Collection”, in Vogue

4. countableA printing machine.

   Stop the presses!

   1 more example

   That books are pouring off the world’s presses at unprecedented rates is a fact often alluded to as a flood that is inundating libraries and the book trades.

   1972, Carol A. Nemeyer, Scholarly Reprint Publishing in the United States, New York, N.Y.: R. R. Bowker Co., →ISBN, page 8

   Synonyms: printing press

5. collectiveuncountableThe print-based media (both the people and the newspapers).

   according to a member of the press

   3 more examples

   This article appeared in the press.

   From another point of view, it was a place without a soul. The well-to-do had hearts of stone; the rich were brutally bumptious; the Press, the Municipality, all the public men, were ridiculously, vaingloriously self-satisfied.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

   British journalists shun complete respectability, feeling a duty to be ready to savage the mighty, or rummage through their bins. Elsewhere in Europe, government contracts and subsidies ensure that press barons will only defy the mighty so far.

   2013 August 10, Lexington, “Keeping the mighty honest”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848

6. countableA publisher.
7. countableespeciallyAn enclosed storage space (e.g. closet, cupboard).

   Put the cups in the press.

   2 more examples

   Put the ironing in the linen press.

   But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. ¶[…]The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window at the old mare feeding in the meadow below by the brook, and a 'bead' could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge,[…].

   1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC

   Synonyms: closet, cupboard, pantry

8. countablehobbiesAn exercise in which weight is forced away from the body by extension of the arms or legs.

   This is the fourth set of benchpresses. There will be five more; then there will be five sets of presses on an inclined bench[…].

   1974, Charles Gaines, George Butler, Pumping Iron: The Art and Sport of Bodybuilding, page 22

9. countablegamblingAn additional bet in a golf match that duplicates an existing (usually losing) wager in value, but begins even at the time of the bet.

   He can even the match with a press.

   2 more examples

   The way a press works is, say you're two down after six holes; you can then start another bet (in effect another match) from the seventh hole, for the same amount, starting all square on the seventh tee.

   2012, Gary McCord, Golf For Dummies

   When a side is two or more points down in the match, they may request a press.

   2014, Nicolae Sfetcu, Sports Betting, page 181

10. countablePure, unfermented grape juice.

    I would like some Concord press with my meal tonight.

11. countableuncountableA commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy.

    I have misused the king's press.

    c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]

    Synonyms: press-gang

12. countableuncountablehuman sciencesIn personology, any environmental factor that arouses a need in the individual.

    The environmental comfort category is illustrative of cases in which there are low environmental presses matched against a number of personal competences.

    2009, Allison E. Smith, Ageing in Urban Neighbourhoods, page 88

present singular third person presses · participle present pressing · participle past pressed · past pressed · participle past prest · past prest · first person past singular pressed · archaic present second person singular pressest · past second person singular pressed · archaic past second person singular pressedst · present singular third person presses · archaic present singular third person presseth · past singular third person pressed · past plural pressed · past subjunctive pressed · participle present pressing

1. ambitransitiveTo exert weight or force against, to act upon with force or weight; to exert pressure upon.
2. transitivebusinessTo activate a button or key by exerting a downward or forward force on it, and then releasing it.

   Synonyms: strike, hit, depress

3. transitiveTo compress, squeeze.

   to press fruit for the purpose of extracting the juice

   Synonyms: thring, thrutch, astringe, compact, telescope, compactify, condense, densitize

4. transitiveTo clasp, hold in an embrace.

   With tears and ſmiles ſhe took her ſon, and preſs'd / Th' illuſtrious infant to her fragrant breaſt.

   a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The Last Parting of Hector and Andromache. From the Sixth Book of the Iliad.”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume IV, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 456

   Synonyms: hug

5. transitiveTo reduce to a particular shape or form by pressure, especially flatten or smooth.

   to press a hat

   1 more example

   to press cloth with a clothes-iron

6. transitivebusinessTo flatten a selected area of fabric using an iron with an up-and-down, not sliding, motion, so as to avoid disturbing adjacent areas.
7. transitiveTo drive or thrust by pressure, to force in a certain direction.

   to press a crowd back

   Synonyms: thring, thrutch

8. transitivehobbiesTo force weight away from the body by extending the arms or legs.

   Start with two weights on the floor. Grab one with your right hand, then curl or clean it to your shoulder, then press it overhead.

   2026, Greg Presto, “Timeless Gains”, in Men's Health, volume 41, number 2, page 14

9. obsoletetransitiveTo weigh upon, oppress, trouble.

   He turns from us; / Alas, he weeps too! Something presses him / He would reveal, but dare not. Sir, be comforted.

   c. 1621, John Fletcher, The Pilgrim, act I, scene ii

10. transitiveTo force to a certain end or result; to urge strongly.

    The two gentlemen who conducted me to the island were pressed by their private affairs to return in three days.

    1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part III (A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdribb, Luggnagg, and Japan)

    Synonyms: impel

11. To try to force (something upon someone).

    to press the Bible on an audience

    2 more examples

    He press'd a letter upon me within this hour.

    1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act II, page 27

    Be sure to press upon him every motive.

    1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene iii, page 7

    Synonyms: urge, inculcate

12. transitiveTo hasten, urge onward.

    to press a horse in a race

13. transitiveTo urge, beseech, entreat.

    God heard their prayers, wherein they earnestly pressed him for the honor of his great name.

    1825, John Winthrop, The History of New England, volume II, page 29

14. transitiveTo lay stress upon.

    If we read but a very little, we naturally want to press it all; if we read a great deal, we are willing not to press the whole of what we read, and we learn what ought to be pressed and what not.

    1873, Matthew Arnold, “preface”, in Literature and Dogma

    Synonyms: emphasize

15. ambitransitiveTo throng, crowd.

    Synonyms: thring, thrutch, assemble, begather, collect, congregate, congress, crowd

16. obsoletetransitiveTo print.
17. To force into service, particularly into naval service.

    The peaceful peasant to the wars is press'd.

    1697, Virgil, “The First Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

    Synonyms: press-gang

1. A surname.