Pronunciation: ri- ' pres
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French represser, from Latin repressus, past participle of reprimere to check, from re- + premere to press ― more at PRESS
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a : to check by or as if by pressure : CURB <injustice was repress ed > b : to put down by force : SUBDUE < repress a disturbance>
2 a : to hold in by self-control < repress ed a laugh> b : to prevent the natural or normal expression, activity, or development of < repress ed her anger>
3 : to exclude from consciousness < repress ed the memory of abuse>
4 : to inactivate (a gene or formation of a gene product) by allosteric combination at a DNA binding site
intransitive verb : to take repressive action
– re · press · ibil · i · ty \ - ˌ pre-s ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– re · press · ible \ - ' pre-s ə -b ə l \ adjective
– re · pres · sive \ - ' pre-siv \ adjective
– re · pres · sive · ly adverb
– re · pres · sive · ness noun