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comprehensible
comprehension
comprehensive
comprehensive examination
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compressed air
compressed workweek
compression
compression chamber
compression-ignition engine
compression ratio
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comprimario
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compression

com·pres·sion [ kəm présh'n ]


noun 
Definition:
 
1. reduction in size: the reduction of the volume or mass of something by applying pressure, or the state of having been treated in this way

2. phase in engine: the phase in the working of an internal-combustion engine in which a combination of fuel and air is compressed in a cylinder before being ignited

3. comput reduction of computer data: a technique for reducing the number of bits required to represent text, data, or images so as to save storage space or reduce transmission time

[14th century. Via French< Latin compression-< compress-, past participle of comprimere (see compress)]

com·pres·sion·al adjective
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