[pres.sur.ize] vt -ized ; -iz.ing (1938) 1: to confine the contents of under a pressure greater than that of the outside atmosphere; esp: to maintain near-normal atmospheric pressure in during high-altitude or spaceflight (as by means of a supercharger)
2: to apply pressure to
3: to design to withstand pressure -- pres.sur.i.za.tion n -- pres.sur.iz.er n