press

I. noun Etymology: Middle English presse, from Anglo-French, from presser to press Date: 13th century 1. a. a crowd or crowded condition ; throng b. a thronging or crowding forward or together 2. a. an apparatus or machine by which a substance is cut or shaped, an impression of a body is taken, a material is compressed, pressure is applied to a body, liquid is expressed, or a cutting tool is fed into the work by pressure b. a building containing presses or a business using presses 3. closet, cupboard 4. a. an action of pressing or pushing ; pressure b. an aggressive pressuring defense employed in basketball often over the entire court area 5. the properly smoothed and creased condition of a freshly pressed garment <

out of press

> 6. a. printing press b. the act or the process of printing c. a printing or publishing establishment 7. a. the gathering and publishing or broadcasting of news ; journalism b. newspapers, periodicals, and often radio and television news broadcasting c. news reporters, publishers, and broadcasters d. comment or notice in newspapers and periodicals <

is getting a good press

> 8. any of various pressure devices (as one for keeping sporting gear from warping when not in use) 9. a lift in weight lifting in which the weight is raised to shoulder height and then smoothly extended overhead without assist from the legs — compare clean and jerk, snatch II. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French presser, from Latin pressare, frequentative of premere to press; probably akin to Russian naperet' to press Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to act upon through steady pushing or thrusting force exerted in contact ; squeeze 2. a. assail, harass b. afflict, oppress 3. a. to squeeze out the juice or contents of b. to squeeze with apparatus or instruments to a desired density, smoothness, or shape 4. a. to exert influence on ; constrain b. to try hard to persuade ; beseech, entreat 5. to move by means of pressure 6. a. to lay stress or emphasis on b. to insist on or request urgently 7. to follow through (a course of action) 8. to clasp in affection or courtesy 9. to make (a phonograph record) from a matrix intransitive verb 1. to crowd closely ; mass 2. to force or push one's way 3. to seek urgently ; contend 4. to require haste or speed in action 5. to exert pressure 6. to take or hold a press 7. to employ a press in basketball • presser noun III. verb Etymology: alteration of obsolete prest to enlist by giving pay in advance Date: 1578 transitive verb 1. to force into service especially in an army or navy ; impress 2. a. to take by authority especially for public use ; commandeer b. to take and force into any usually emergency service intransitive verb to impress men as soldiers or sailors IV. noun Date: 1599 1. impressment into service especially in a navy 2. obsolete a warrant for impressing recruits