[press] n [ME presse, fr. OF, fr. presser to press] (13c) 1 a: a crowd or crowded condition: throng b: a thronging or crowding forward or together
2. a: an apparatus or machine by which a substance is cut or shaped, an impress ion of a body is taken, a material is compressed, pressure is applied to a body, liquid is expressed, or a cutting tool is fed into the work by pressure b: a building containing presses or a business using presses
3: closet, cupboard
4. a: an action of pressing or pushing: pressure b: an aggressive pressuring defense employed in basketball often over the entire court area
5: the properly smoothed and creased condition of a freshly pressed garment "out of ~"
6. a: printing press b: the act or the process of printing c: a printing or publishing establishment
7. a: the gathering and publishing or broadcasting of news: journalism b: newspapers, periodicals, and often radio and television news broadcasting c: news reporters, publishers, and broadcasters d: comment or notice in newspapers and periodicals "is getting a good ~" 8: any of various pressure devices (as one for keeping sporting gear from warping when not in use) 9: a lift in weight lifting in which the weight is raised to shoulder height and then smoothly extended overhead without assist from the legs--compare clean and jerk, snatch
[2]press vb [ME, fr. MF presser, fr. L pressare, freq. of premere to press; prob. akin to Russ naperet' to press] vt (14c) 1: to act upon through steady pushing or thrusting force exerted in contact: squeeze
2. a: assail, harass b: afflict, oppress 3 a: to squeeze out the juice or contents of b: to squeeze with apparatus or instruments to a desired density, smoothness, or shape
4. a: to exert influence on: constrain b: to try hard to persuade: beseech, entreat
5: to move by means of pressure
6. a: to lay stress or emphasis on b: to insist on or request urgently 7: to follow through (a course of action) 8: to clasp in affection or courtesy 9: to make (a phonograph record) from a matrix ~ vi 1: to crowd closely: mass
2: to force or push one's way
3: to seek urgently: contend
4: to require haste or speed in action
5: to exert pressure
6: to take or hold a press 7: to employ a press in basketball -- press.er n -- press the flesh : to greet and shake hands with people esp. while campaigning for political office [3]press vb [alter. of obs. prest to enlist by giving pay in advance] vt (1578) 1: to force into service esp. in an army or navy: impress
2. a: to take by authority esp. for public use: commandeer b: to take and force into any usu. emergency service ~ vi: to impress men as soldiers or sailors [4]press n (1599) 1: impressment into service esp. in a navy
2. obs: a warrant for impressing recruits