/ ˈpreʃə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
WHEN STH PRESSES
1.
[ U ] the force or weight with which sth presses against sth else :
The nurse applied pressure to his arm to stop the bleeding.
The barriers gave way under the pressure of the crowd.
OF GAS / LIQUID
2.
[ U , C ] the force produced by a particular amount of gas or liquid in a confined space or container; the amount of this :
air / water pressure
Check the tyre pressure (= the amount of air in a tyre) regularly.
—see also blood pressure
OF ATMOSPHERE
3.
[ U ] the force of the atmosphere on the earth's surface :
A band of high / low pressure is moving across the country.
—see also atmospheric
PERSUASION / FORCE
4.
[ U ] pressure (for sth) | pressure (on sb) (to do sth) the act of trying to persuade or to force sb to do sth :
The pressure for change continued to mount.
There is a great deal of pressure on young people to conform.
The government eventually bowed to popular pressure (= they agreed to do what people were trying to get them to do) .
Teenagers may find it difficult to resist peer pressure .
STRESS
5.
[ U ] (also pres·sures [ pl. ]) difficulties and feelings of anxiety that are caused by the need to achieve or to behave in a particular way :
She was unable to attend because of the pressure of work.
You need to be able to handle pressure in this job.
How can anyone enjoy the pressures of city life?
•
IDIOMS
- put pressure on sb (to do sth)
- under pressure
■ verb
[ often passive ] pressure sb (into sth / into doing sth) ( especially NAmE ) = pressurize [ vn ]
Don't let yourself be pressured into making a hasty decision.
[also vn to inf ]
••
SYNONYMS
pressure
stress ♦ tension ♦ strain
These are all words for the feelings of anxiety caused by the problems in sb's life.
pressure
difficulties and feelings of anxiety that are caused by the need to achieve sth or to behave in a particular way:
She was unable to attend because of the pressures of work.
stress
pressure or anxiety caused by the problems in sb's life:
stress-related illnesses
pressure or stress?
It is common to say that sb is suffering from stress , while pressure may be the thing that causes stress .
tension
a feeling of anxiety and stress that makes it impossible to relax:
nervous tension
strain
pressure on sb/sth because they have too much to do or manage; the problems, worry or anxiety that this produces:
I found it a strain looking after four children.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to cause stress / tension / strain
cope with / deal with / handle the pressure / stress / tension / strain
to relieve / ease the pressure / stress / tension / strain
to be suffering from stress / tension
to be under pressure / stress / strain
considerable pressure / stress / tension / strain
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French , from Latin pressura , from press- pressed, from the verb premere .