/ pres; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
NEWSPAPERS
1.
(often the Press ) [ sing.+ sing./pl. v . ] newspapers and magazines :
the local / national / foreign press
the popular / tabloid press (= smaller newspapers with a lot of pictures and stories of famous people)
The story was reported in the press and on television.
the music / sporting press (= newspapers and magazines about music / sport)
Unlike the American, the British press operates on a national scale.
the freedom of the Press / press freedom (= the freedom to report any events and express opinions)
The event is bound to attract wide press coverage (= it will be written about in many newspapers) .
—see also gutter press
2.
the press , the Press [ sing.+ sing./pl. v . ] the journalists and photographers who work for newspapers and magazines :
The Press was / were not allowed to attend the trial.
3.
[ sing. , U ] the type or amount of reports that newspapers write about sb/sth :
The airline has had a bad press recently (= journalists have written unpleasant things about it) .
PUBLISHING / PRINTING
4.
[ C , U ] a machine for printing books, newspapers, etc.; the process of printing them :
We were able to watch the books rolling off the presses.
These prices are correct at the time of going to press .
a story that is hot off the press (= has just appeared in the newspapers)
—see also printing press , stop press
5.
[ C ] a business that prints and publishes books :
Oxford University Press
EQUIPMENT FOR PRESSING
6.
[ C ] (especially in compounds) a piece of equipment that is used for creating pressure on things, to make them flat or to get liquid from them :
a trouser press
a garlic press
ACT OF PUSHING
7.
[ C , usually sing. ] an act of pushing sth with your hand or with a tool that you are holding :
He gave the bell another press.
Those shirts need a press (= with an iron) .
CROWD
8.
[ sing. ] a large number of people or things competing for space or movement
SYN throng :
the press of bodies all moving the same way
CUPBOARD
9.
[ C ] ( IrishE , ScotE ) a large cupboard, usually with shelves, for holding clothes, books, etc.
■ verb
PUSH / SQUEEZE
1.
press (sth/sb / yourself) against sth | press sth to sth | press sth together to push sth closely and firmly against sth; to be pushed in this way :
[ vn ]
She pressed her face against the window.
He pressed a handkerchief to his nose.
She pressed her lips together.
[ v ]
His body was pressing against hers.
2.
to push or squeeze part of a device, etc. in order to make it work :
[ vn ]
to press a button / switch / key
[ vn - adj ]
He pressed the lid firmly shut.
[ v , usually + adv. / prep. ]
Press here to open.
She pressed down hard on the gas pedal.
3.
[ vn ] press sth into / onto sth to put sth in a place by pushing it firmly :
He pressed a coin into her hand and moved on.
4.
[ vn ] to squeeze sb's hand or arm, especially as a sign of affection
5.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] ( of people in a crowd ) to move in the direction mentioned by pushing :
The photographers pressed around the royal visitors.
( figurative )
A host of unwelcome thoughts were pressing in on him.
TRY TO PERSUADE
6.
press sb (for sth) | press sb (into sth / into doing sth) to make strong efforts to persuade or force sb to do sth
SYN push , urge :
[ vn ]
If pressed , he will admit that he knew about the affair.
The bank is pressing us for repayment of the loan.
[ vn to inf ]
They are pressing us to make a quick decision.
POINT / CLAIM / CASE
7.
[ vn ] to express or repeat sth with force :
I don't want to press the point , but you do owe me $200.
She is still pressing her claim for compensation.
They were determined to press their case at the highest level.
MAKE FLAT / SMOOTH
8.
to make sth flat or smooth by using force or putting sth heavy on top :
[ vn ]
pressed flowers (= pressed between the pages of a book)
[ vn - adj ]
Press the soil flat with the back of a spade.
9.
[ vn ] to make clothes smooth using a hot iron
SYN iron :
My suit needs pressing.
FRUIT / VEGETABLES
10.
[ vn ] to squeeze the juice out of fruit or vegetables by using force or weight
METAL
11.
[ vn ] to make sth from a material, using pressure :
to press a CD
The car bodies are pressed out of sheets of metal.
•
IDIOMS
- press (the) flesh
- press sth home
- press sb/sth into service
—more at button verb , charge noun , panic button
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- press ahead / on (with sth)
- press for sth
- press sth on sb
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun and verb Middle English : from Old French presse (noun), presser (verb), from Latin pressare keep pressing, frequentative of premere .
press sb/sth into service. late 16th cent.: alteration (by association with press , verb) of obsolete prest pay given on enlistment, enlistment by such payment , from Old French prest loan, advance pay, based on Latin praestare provide.