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| press [ press ] |
verb (past and past participle pressed, present participle press·ing, 3rd person present singular press·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb push against something: to use a steady and significant force to put weight on something, sometimes to make it move or start working
  press the button
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2. transitive verb squeeze juice out of something: to squeeze the juice or oil out of something using force to compress it
pressing grapes
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3. transitive verb smooth something with hot iron: to remove unwanted creases from a garment or piece of cloth, or make a deliberate crease in a garment or piece of cloth, using a hot iron or other device
pressed a shirt
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4. transitive verb change object's shape by squeezing: to change the shape of something by squeezing it or putting a steady weight on it, especially in order to make it more compact
pressed the clay into a ball
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5. transitive verb flatten something to preserve it: to flatten and dry a natural object such as a flower so that it does not decompose and can be kept or used decoratively
pressed flowers as a hobby
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6. transitive verb make something using mold: to form something in a mold, especially to make phonograph records
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7. transitive verb hold something tightly: to grip or clasp somebody or something firmly but not roughly with the hands or arms, especially to show affection or moral support
She pressed his hand in sympathy.
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8. intransitive verb try too hard: to make great or greater efforts in order to achieve something, but not necessarily succeed, as an athlete under stress might
Late in the crucial game, the players were obviously pressing and made one error after another.
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9. transitive verb force somebody: to force somebody into doing something he or she did not want or intend to do
They pressed her into accepting the nomination.
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10. transitive verb try to obtain something from somebody: to ask somebody persistently or forcefully to supply, accept, or do something
They pressed him for an immediate response.
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11. transitive verb emphasize something: to make sure that something is fully recognized and understood or stress its importance
pressed his point
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12. transitive verb demand something: to plead or demand something insistently
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13. intransitive verb move as crowd: to move together as a body, especially in a forceful way or so as to crowd somebody or something
The crowd pressed forward as the gates opened.
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14. intransitive verb require attention: to need to be dealt with urgently
(
dated or formal
)
I'd like to help now, but business presses.
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15. transitive and intransitive verb basketball harass opponent: to use a harassing and aggressive defense against an opponent in basketball
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noun (plural press·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. act of pressing: an act of pressing something
I gave the doorbell a few presses but nobody answered.
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2. food preparation device: a piece of equipment designed to crush something to release the juices or create a pulp
a garlic press
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3. device for flattening something: a piece of equipment used to keep or make something smooth and uncreased
a trouser press
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4. linen closet: a shelved closet, usually of a large size, for storing bed or table linens or clothes
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5. racket games clamp for rackets: a clamp for holding a tennis or other racket to prevent it from warping when it is not in use
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6. machine for shaping materials by mechanical pressure: a machine that, by applying pressure to a piece of metal or other material, can shape, form, cut, stamp, or otherwise cause a physical change to occur
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7. newspapers or reporters: the news-gathering business generally, or all the people involved in gathering and reporting on the news, especially journalists working on newspapers
refused to talk to the press
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8. comments by reporters: the opinions expressed in articles or reviews in the newspapers or magazines
His new musical had a lot of good press.
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9. printing
Same as printing press
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10. publishing publishing company: a company that publishes books
(
used especially in names
)
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11. printing process or skill of printing: the technical or physical process used by a printer and the skills a printer requires
about to go to press
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12. crowd: a tightly packed crowd of people
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13. powerful movement: the crowding and pressing together of a lot of people or things at the same time
(
literary
)
He could not move because of the press of people.
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14. defense in sports: an aggressive defense, especially in basketball
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15. lifting of weight above head: in weightlifting, a lift in which the weight is raised to shoulder height and then to above the head without moving the legs
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| [14th century. Via French< Latin pressare "keep on pressing" < press-, past participle of premere "press"] |
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| press·er noun |
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be pressed for something to be short of something, usually time
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