ə̇mˈpreshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English impressioun, from Middle French impression, from Latin impression-, impressio, from impressus (past part of imprimere to impress) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at impress
1. : the act or process of impressing: as
a.
(1) : an affecting by stamping, bearing upon, pressing, pressing into, or otherwise exerting a physical force that marks, grooves, embosses, or prints in some way
the worker held the metal firm during the impression by the die
a firm impression of the seal on the wax
(2) archaic : the printing process
b. : a communicating or giving of a mold, style, trait, or character by an external force or influence
a parent concerned with the impression of good traits on the mind and personality of his children
2. : the effect or product of an impression: as
a.
(1) : an indentation, stamp, embossment, form, or figure resulting from physical contact usually with pressure
the strokes became wedge-shaped impressions which gave cuneiform its name — Peter Lawrence
a banking system whose principal features would be a circulation of notes bearing a common impression — Encyc. Americana
a well-printed book has a sharp, clean impression — Joseph Blumenthal
(2) obsolete : a telling mark or trace
(3) : a negative imprint in plastic material of the surfaces of the teeth and adjacent portions of the jaw from which a positive likeness may be produced in dentistry
(4) : meter impression
b. : an especially marked influence or effect on feeling, sense, or mind
the bad dream made a terrible impression on the child
the impression of the ocean was vivid in his mind
made a favorable impression on the audience
the more emotion the reading arouses, the deeper the impression on the learner — W.F.Mackey
square chimneys thrusting upward add to the impression of weight — American Guide Series: Arkansas
c.
(1) : a characteristic trait or feature resulting from influence
the impression produced by an environment on a person's habits
(2) : an effect of alteration or improvement
the fur traders … made little permanent impression on the wilderness — R.A.Billington
a candle or lamp struggled feebly from a window but made no impression on the darkness — S.H.Holbrook
d. : a telling image impressed on the senses or the mind
looking over the steep hills, the first impression is of an immense void like the sea — Richard Jefferies
drank in all the new impressions eagerly — Havelock Ellis
3. : a piece of wax, metal, or other substance on which a seal has been impressed
4. archaic
a. : charge , attack
b. : strong effect : impact , shock
5. obsolete : an atmospheric condition or phenomenon
6.
a. : the amount of pressure with which an inked printing surface deposits its ink on the paper in the printing process
each form should be made ready with as light an impression as practicable — John Southward
b. : one instance of the meeting of a printing surface and the material being printed
plates badly worn after a million impressions
also : a single print or copy so made
c. : all the copies of a book or other publication printed in one continuous operation from a single makeready
first published in 1939 and now available in a third impression — Times Literary Supplement
— called also printing ; compare edition
7. : a usually indistinct or imprecise notion, remembrance, belief, or opinion
an impression of familiarity with a face
the mistaken impression that they were out of enemy territory
cold, and mysterious, and ghostly — that is my first and lasting impression of Mycenae — Mary Chubb
8.
a. : the first coat of color in painting
b. : a coat of paint for ornament or preservation
9. : an imitation or representation of salient features in an artistic or theatrical medium (as a ballet, painting, or theatrical monologue)
the novel was an impression of the battle from the point of view of the common soldier
especially : an imitation in caricature of a noted personality as a form of theatrical entertainment
the comedian gave several impressions of famous movie and television stars
Synonyms: see idea