press (n.)

  1. the state of demanding notice or attention; the insistence of their hunger; the press of business matters

    [ Syn: imperativeness , insistence , insistency , pressure ]

  2. the print media responsible for gathering and publishing news in the form of newspapers or magazines

    [ Syn: public press ]

  3. a machine used for printing

    [ Syn: printing press ]

  4. a dense crowd of people

    [ Syn: crush , jam ]

  5. a tall piece of furniture that provides storage space for clothes; has a door and rails or hooks for hanging clothes

    [ Syn: wardrobe , closet ]

  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

    [ Syn: mechanical press ]

  8. a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then smoothly lifted overhead

    [ Syn: 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

    [ Syn: pressure , pressing ]

    press (v.)

  1. exert pressure or force to or upon; He pressed down on the boards; press your thumb on this spot'

  2. press from a plastic; press a record

    [ Syn: press out ]

  3. make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby; `Now push hard, said the doctor to the woman

    [ Syn: push ]

  4. press and smooth with a heated iron; press your shirts; she stood there ironing

    [ Syn: iron , iron out ]

  5. lift weights; This guy can press 300 pounds

    [ Syn: weight-lift , weightlift ]

  6. ask for or request earnestly; The prophet bid all people to become good persons

    [ Syn: bid , beseech , entreat , adjure , conjure ]

  7. force or impel in an indicated direction; I urged him to finish his studies

    [ Syn: urge , urge on , exhort ]

  8. to be oppressive or burdensome; weigh heavily on the mind, Something pressed on his mind

    [ Syn: weigh ]

  9. place between two surfaces and apply weight or pressure; pressed flowers'

  10. squeeze or press together; she compressed her lips; the spasm contracted the muscle

    [ Syn: compress , constrict , squeeze , compact , contract ]

  11. crowd closely; The crowds pressed along the street'

  12. create by pressing; Press little holes into the soft clay'

  13. be urgent; This is a pressing problem'

  14. 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 womens rights; The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate

    [ Syn: crusade , fight , campaign , push , agitate ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.