press meaning and definition

PRESS noun

Definition of press (noun)

1. the state of demanding notice or attention
   • "the insistence of their hunger"; "the press of business matters"
   • synonyms: imperativeness, insistence, insistency, pressure
2. the print media responsible for gathering and publishing news in the form of newspapers or magazines
   • synonyms: public press
3. a machine used for printing
   • synonyms: printing press
4. a dense crowd of people
   • synonyms: crush, jam
5. a tall piece of furniture that provides storage space for clothes; has a door and rails or hooks for hanging clothes
   • synonyms: closet, wardrobe
6. clamp to prevent wooden rackets from warping when not in use
7. any machine that exerts pressure to form or shape or cut materials or extract liquids or compress solids
   • synonyms: mechanical press
8. a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then smoothly lifted overhead
   • synonyms: military press
9. the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
   • "he gave the button a press"; "he used pressure to stop the bleeding"; "at the pressing of a button"
   • synonyms: pressing, pressure

PRESS verb

Definition of press (verb)

1. exert pressure or force to or upon
   • "He pressed down on the boards"; "press your thumb on this spot"
2. force or impel in an indicated direction
   • "I urged him to finish his studies"
   • synonyms: exhort, urge, urge on
3. to be oppressive or burdensome
   • "weigh heavily on the mind", "Something pressed on his mind"
   • synonyms: weigh
4. place between two surfaces and apply weight or pressure
   • "pressed flowers"
5. squeeze or press together
   • "she compressed her lips"; "the spasm contracted the muscle"
   • synonyms: compact, compress, constrict, contract, squeeze
6. crowd closely
   • "The crowds pressed along the street"
7. create by pressing
   • "Press little holes into the soft clay"
8. be urgent
   • "This is a pressing problem"
9. exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for
   • "The liberal party pushed for reforms"; "She is crusading for women's rights"; "The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate"
   • synonyms: agitate, campaign, crusade, fight, push
10. press from a plastic
    • "press a record"
    • synonyms: press out
11. make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby
    • "`Now push hard,' said the doctor to the woman"
    • synonyms: push
12. press and smooth with a heated iron
    • "press your shirts"; "she stood there ironing"
    • synonyms: iron, iron out
13. lift weights
    • "This guy can press 300 pounds"
    • synonyms: weightlift, weight-lift
14. ask for or request earnestly
    • "The prophet bid all people to become good persons"
    • synonyms: adjure, beseech, bid, conjure, entreat