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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | presser, from Latin pressare, from premere 'to press'; PRINT2 |
Related topics:1 to push something firmly against a surface [= push]: 
Manville kept his back pressed flat against the wall.She pressed the gas pedal and the car leapt forwards. He pressed a card into her hand before leaving.
against something
[transitive always + adverb/preposition]Manville kept his back pressed flat against the wall.She pressed the gas pedal and the car leapt forwards.He pressed a card into her hand before leaving.2 to push a button, switch etc to make a machine start, a bell ring etc [= push]: Press control, alt, delete to log on to the computer.
button
[transitive]Press control, alt, delete to log on to the computer.3 to make clothes smooth using a hot iron [= iron]: I'll need to press my suit.
clothes
[transitive]DCI'll need to press my suit.4 to move in a particular direction by pushing : The car rocked as the crowd pressed hard against it.
crowd
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]The car rocked as the crowd pressed hard against it.5 to try hard to persuade someone to do something, especially by asking them many times : I felt that if I had pressed him he would have lent me the money.
persuade
[intransitive and transitive]I felt that if I had pressed him he would have lent me the money.6 to put pressure or a weight on something to make it flat, crush it etc : pressed flowers At this stage the grapes have to be pressed.
heavy weight
[transitive]pressed flowersAt this stage the grapes have to be pressed.7 to hold someone or something close to you
hold somebody/something close
[transitive]8 to hold someone's hand or arm tightly for a short time, to show friendship, sympathy etc : Sometimes he was too ill to speak, and just pressed my hand.
press somebody's hand/arm
Sometimes he was too ill to speak, and just pressed my hand.10 to not have enough time, money etc : a government department that is pressed for both time and money
be pressed for time/cash etc
a government department that is pressed for both time and money11 to offer something to someone and try to make them take it
give
[transitive]12 to push a weight up from your chest using only your arms, without moving your legs or feet
exercise
[transitive]13 to persuade someone to help you, or to use something to help you do something because of an unexpected problem or need : The army was pressed into service to fight the fires.
press somebody/something into service
The army was pressed into service to fight the fires.14 to shake hands with a lot of people - used humorously : The President reached into the crowd to press the flesh.
press the flesh
The President reached into the crowd to press the flesh.15
press something home
a) to push something into its place : Jane slammed the door and pressed the bolt home.
Jane slammed the door and pressed the bolt home.b) to repeat or emphasize something, so that people remember it :
17 to make a copy of a record, CD etc
record
[transitive]TCR➔ be hard pressed to do something
at hard2 (5)press on
phrasal verb also press ahead to continue doing something, especially working, in a determined way : We'll talk about your suggestion later - now let's just press on.
We'll talk about your suggestion later - now let's just press on.
