press
/pɹɛs/ verb B1- To exert weight or force against, to act upon with force or weight; to exert pressure upon.
- To activate a button or key by exerting a downward or forward force on it, and then releasing it.
- To compress, squeeze. · to press fruit for the purpose of extracting the juice
- To clasp, hold in an embrace.
- To reduce to a particular shape or form by pressure, especially flatten or smooth. · to press cloth with a clothes-iron· to press a hat
- To flatten a selected area of fabric using an iron with an up-and-down, not sliding, motion, so as to avoid disturbing adjacent areas.
- To drive or thrust by pressure, to force in a certain direction. · to press a crowd back
- To force weight away from the body by extending the arms or legs.
Plural press · He/she/it presses · Past pressed · Past participle pressed · -ing form pressing
Verb forms
- Base form
- press
- He/she/it
- presses
- Past
- pressed
- Past participle
- pressed
- -ing form
- pressing
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
Thus pressed by us all, Holmes showed signs of irresolution.
Villefort rose, or rather sprang, from his chair, hastily opened one of the drawers of his desk, emptied all the gold it contained into his pocket, stood motionless an instant, his hand pressed to his head, muttered a few inarticulate sounds, and then, perceiving that his servant had placed his cloak on his shoulders, he sprang into the carriage, ordering the postilions to drive to M.
A HART, hard pressed in the chase, hid himself beneath the large leaves of a Vine.
As he spoke, his nimble fingers were flying here, there, and everywhere, feeling, pressing, unbuttoning, examining, while his eyes wore the same far-away expression which I have already remarked upon.
Other matches
Learn press in real texts
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