press

Definitions


[prɛs], (Verb)

Definitions:
- move or cause to move into a position of contact with something by exerting continuous physical force
(e.g: he pressed his face to the glass)

- apply pressure to (something) to flatten, shape, or smooth it, typically by ironing
(e.g: she pressed her nicest blouse)

- forcefully put forward (an opinion, claim, or course of action)
(e.g: Rose did not press the point)

- raise (a specified weight) by lifting it to shoulder height and then gradually pushing it upwards above the head

- try too hard to achieve distance with a shot, at the risk of inaccuracy


Phrases:
- go to press
- press the flesh

Origin:
Middle English: from Old French presse (noun), presser (verb), from Latin pressare ‘keep pressing’, frequentative of premere


[prɛs], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a device for applying pressure to something in order to flatten or shape it or to extract juice or oil
(e.g: a flower press)

- a printing press

- newspapers or journalists viewed collectively
(e.g: the incident was not reported in the press)

- an act of pressing something
(e.g: the system summons medical help at the press of a button)

- an act of raising a weight to shoulder height and then gradually pushing it upwards above the head

- a large cupboard
(e.g: the necessary linen was kept in a large press, and in another was the silver plate and several sets of china)


Phrases:
- go to press
- press the flesh

Origin:
Middle English: from Old French presse (noun), presser (verb), from Latin pressare ‘keep pressing’, frequentative of premere


[prɛs], (Verb)

Definitions:
- put someone or something to a specified use, especially as a temporary or makeshift measure
(e.g: she was pressed into service as an interpreter)

- force (a man) to enlist in the army or navy


Phrases:

Origin:
mid 16th century: alteration (by association with press) of obsolete prest, past tense and past participle of prest ‘enlist (men) for military service by a payment’, probably from prest ‘pay given on enlistment, enlistment by such payment’, from Old French prest ‘loan, advance pay’, based on Latin praestare ‘provide’


[prɛs], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a forcible enlistment of men, especially for the navy


Phrases:

Origin:
mid 16th century: alteration (by association with press) of obsolete prest, past tense and past participle of prest ‘enlist (men) for military service by a payment’, probably from prest ‘pay given on enlistment, enlistment by such payment’, from Old French prest ‘loan, advance pay’, based on Latin praestare ‘provide’




definition by Oxford Dictionaries