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compress

comp·ress

UK/ˈkɒmpɹɛs/ US/ˈkɑmpɹɛs/ uncommon obsolete
verb (2) noun (1)

verb

1.

make more compact by or as if by pressing

  • “compress the data”
Synonyms
Antonyms
2.

squeeze or press together

  • “she compressed her lips”
  • “the spasm contracted the muscle”
Synonyms

noun

1.

a cloth pad or dressing (with or without medication) applied firmly to some part of the body (to relieve discomfort or reduce fever)

Origin

From Middle French compresse, from compresse (“to compress”), from Late Latin compressare (“to press hard/together”), from Latin compressus, the past participle of comprimō (“to compress”), itself from com- (“together”) + premō (“press”).

Phrases

  • compressed air
  • compressive strength

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

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Entails

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.