(~es, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ something somewhere, you push it firmly against something else.
He ~ed his back against the door...
They ~ed the silver knife into the cake.
VERB: V n against n, V n prep
2.
If you ~ a button or switch, you push it with your finger in order to make a machine or device work.
Drago ~ed a button and the door closed...
VERB: V n
•
Press is also a noun.
...a TV which rises from a table at the ~ of a button.
N-COUNT: usu sing
3.
If you ~ something or ~ down on it, you push hard against it with your foot or hand.
The engine stalled. He ~ed the accelerator hard...
She stood up and leaned forward with her hands ~ing down on the desk.
VERB: V n, V adv
4.
If you ~ for something, you try hard to persuade someone to give it to you or to agree to it.
Police might now ~ for changes in the law...
They had ~ed for their children to be taught French.
= push
VERB: V for n, V for n to-inf
5.
If you ~ someone, you try hard to persuade them to do something.
Trade unions are ~ing him to stand firm...
Mr King seems certain to be ~ed for further details...
She smiles coyly when ~ed about her private life.
VERB: V n to-inf, be V-ed for/about n, be V-ed for/about n
6.
If someone ~es their claim, demand, or point, they state it in a very forceful way.
The protest campaign has used mass strikes and demonstrations to ~ its demands...
VERB: V n
7.
If an unpleasant feeling or worry ~es on you, it affects you very much or you are always thinking about it.
The weight of irrational guilt ~ed on her...
VERB: V on n
8.
If you ~ something on someone, you give it to them and insist that they take it.
All I had was money, which I ~ed on her reluctant mother...
VERB: V n on n
9.
If you ~ clothes, you iron them in order to get rid of the creases.
Vera ~ed his shirt...
...clean, neatly ~ed, conservative clothes.
= iron
VERB: V n, V-ed
10.
If you ~ fruits or vegetables, you squeeze them or crush them, usually in order to extract the juice.
The grapes are hand-picked and ~ed...
I ~ed the juice of half a lemon into a glass of water.
...1 clove fresh garlic, ~ed or diced.
VERB: be V-ed, V n, V-ed
11.
Newspapers are referred to as the ~.
Today the British ~ is full of articles on India’s new prime minister...
Press reports revealed that ozone levels in the upper atmosphere fell during the past month.
N-SING-COLL: the N
12.
Journalists are referred to as the ~.
Christie looked relaxed and calm as he faced the ~ afterwards...
N-SING-COLL: the N
13.
A ~ or a printing ~ is a machine used for printing things such as books and newspapers.
N-COUNT
14.
see also ~ed , ~ing
15.
If someone or something gets a bad ~, they are criticized, especially in the newspapers, on television, or on radio. If they get a good ~, they are praised.
...the bad ~ that career women consistently get in this country...
PHRASE: V inflects
16.
If you ~ charges against someone, you make an official accusation against them which has to be decided in a court of law.
I could have ~ed charges against him...
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR against n
17.
When a newspaper or magazine goes to ~, it starts being printed.
We check prices at the time of going to ~...
PHRASE: V inflects