43. (v.t.)press to force into service, esp. naval or military service; impress.
44. press to make use of in a manner different from that intended or desired: A bus was pressed into service as an ambulance.
45. (n.)press impressment into service, esp. naval or military service.
Etymology: (1535–45; back formation from prest, ptp. of obs. prest to take (men) for military service, v. use of prest money advanced to enlistees)
Definition of 'press'
Princeton's WordNet
1. (noun)imperativeness, insistence, insistency, press, pressure the state of demanding notice or attention "the insistence of their hunger"; "the press of business matters"
2. (noun)press, public press the print media responsible for gathering and publishing news in the form of newspapers or magazines
3. (noun)press, printing press a machine used for printing
4. (noun)crush, jam, press a dense crowd of people
5. (noun)wardrobe, closet, press a tall piece of furniture that provides storage space for clothes; has a door and rails or hooks for hanging clothes
6. (noun)press clamp to prevent wooden rackets from warping when not in use
7. (noun)press, mechanical press any machine that exerts pressure to form or shape or cut materials or extract liquids or compress solids
8. (noun)press, military press a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then smoothly lifted overhead
9. (verb)press, pressure, pressing 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"
10. (verb)press exert pressure or force to or upon "He pressed down on the boards"; "press your thumb on this spot"
11. (verb)urge, urge on, press, exhort force or impel in an indicated direction "I urged him to finish his studies"
12. (verb)weigh, press to be oppressive or burdensome "weigh heavily on the mind", "Something pressed on his mind"
13. (verb)press place between two surfaces and apply weight or pressure "pressed flowers"
14. (verb)compress, constrict, squeeze, compact, contract, press squeeze or press together "she compressed her lips"; "the spasm contracted the muscle"
15. (verb)press crowd closely "The crowds pressed along the street"
16. (verb)press create by pressing "Press little holes into the soft clay"
17. (verb)press be urgent "This is a pressing problem"
18. (verb)crusade, fight, press, campaign, push, agitate 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 women's rights"; "The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate"
19. (verb)press, press out press from a plastic "press a record"
20. (verb)press, push make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby "`Now push hard,' said the doctor to the woman"
21. (verb)iron, iron out, press press and smooth with a heated iron "press your shirts"; "she stood there ironing"
22. (verb)weight-lift, weightlift, press lift weights "This guy can press 300 pounds"
23. (verb)bid, beseech, entreat, adjure, press, conjure ask for or request earnestly "The prophet bid all people to become good persons"
1. (verb)press to push with your fingers Press one to hear this message again.; Press down on the lid to seal.
2. press to push sth against sth people pressing against each other on the subway; She pressed her face to the window, trying to see.
3. press to try repeatedly to make sb do sth His family was pressing him to take the money.
4. (noun)press the press reporters and other people who work for news organizations the local/national press; to answer questions for the press; a story recently in the press
5. press a machine that prints books, newspapers, etc. newspapers coming off the presses
6. press a device that squeezes sth a garlic press
Definition of 'press'
Webster Dictionary
1. (noun)press an EastIndianinsectivore (Tupaia ferruginea). It is arboreal in its habits, and has a bushy tail. The fur is soft, and varies from rusty red to maroon and to brownish black
2. (noun)press to force into service, particularly into naval service; to impress
4. (noun)press an apparatus or machine by which any substance or body is pressed, squeezed, stamped, or shaped, or by which an impression of a body is taken; sometimes, the place or building containing a press or presses
5. (noun)press specifically, a printing press
6. (noun)press the art or business of printing and publishing; hence, printed publications, taken collectively, more especially newspapers or the persons employed in writing for them; as, a free press is a blessing, a licentious press is a curse
7. (noun)press an upright case or closet for the safe keeping of articles; as, a clothes press
8. (noun)press the act of pressing or thronging forward
9. (noun)press urgent demands of business or affairs; urgency; as, a press of engagements
10. (noun)press a multitude of individuals crowded together; / crowd of single things; a throng
11. press to urge, or act upon, with force, as weight; to act upon by pushing or thrusting, in distinction from pulling; to crowd or compel by a gradual and continued exertion; to bear upon; to squeeze; to compress; as, we press the ground with the feet when we walk; we press the couch on which we repose; we press substances with the hands, fingers, or arms; we are pressed in a crowd
12. press to squeeze, in order to extract the juice or contents of; to squeeze out, or express, from something
13. press to squeeze in or with suitable instruments or apparatus, in order to compact, make dense, or smooth; as, to press cotton bales, paper, etc.; to smooth by ironing; as, to press clothes
14. press to embrace closely; to hug
15. press to oppress; to bear hard upon
16. press to straiten; to distress; as, to be pressed with want or hunger
17. press to exercise very powerful or irresistible influence upon or over; to constrain; to force; to compel
18. press to try to force (something upon some one); to urge or inculcate with earnestness or importunity; to enforce; as, to press divine truth on an audience
19. press to drive with violence; to hurry; to urge on; to ply hard; as, to press a horse in a race
20. (verb)press to exert pressure; to bear heavily; to push, crowd, or urge with steady force
21. (verb)press to move on with urging and crowding; to make one's way with violence or effort; to bear onward forcibly; to crowd; to throng; to encroach
22. (verb)press to urge with vehemence or importunity; to exert a strong or compelling influence; as, an argument presses upon the judgment