press
press Lexical Profile
press Game Scores & Validity
• noun
News media, newspapers, periodicals, and journalists collectively.
"The prime minister held a briefing to address questions from the international press."
A mechanical device used for applying pressure to shape, flatten, extract juice from, or print upon something.
"They used a traditional wooden press to extract fresh oil from the harvested olives."
A printing or publishing company, especially one affiliated with a university.
"Her latest historical monograph was published by a prestigious university press."
An act of pushing or applying steady physical force to something.
"With a quick press of a button, the technician activated the main generator."
A densely packed crowd of people or things.
"She slowly made her way through the press of commuters at the train station."
• verb
To apply steady physical force or weight to something in order to push, flatten, or compress it.
"Please press the green button on the panel to open the security gate."
To urge, insist, or make strong, repeated demands on someone to do something.
"The committee continued to press the director for a clearer explanation of the budget shortfall."
To smooth out wrinkles in clothing or fabric using a heated iron or steam machine.
"He took a few minutes to press his suit trousers before the morning interview."
To extract juice, oil, or liquid from fruit, seeds, or vegetables by squeezing them.
"After the autumn harvest, the orchard workers press the apples to make fresh cider."
To move forward or crowd closely in a determined or forceful manner.
"The expedition team decided to press onward despite the heavy snowfall."
• Rhymes for press
Word Origin & Etymology
Middle English, from Old French 'presser' (verb) and 'presse' (noun), ultimately derived from Latin 'pressare', the frequentative form of 'premere', meaning 'to push, squeeze, or crowd'. The sense referring to news media evolved from the printing press, which physically pressed inked type onto paper.