Word family noun press pressure pressing adjective pressed pressing pressurized pressured verb press pressure pressurize
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpresspress1 /pres/ ●●● S2 W1 noun 1 news a) the pressTCN people who write reports for newspapers, radio, or television the freedom of the press The press has been very nasty about him.GRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb?• The press is usually followed by a singular verb: The press does not always report the whole story.• In British English, you can also use a plural verb: The press do not always report the whole story. b) TCNreports in newspapers and on radio and television To judge from the press, the concert was a great success. press reports The band has received good press coverage (=the reports written about something in newspapers).local/national etc press The story was widely covered in the national press.tabloid/popular etc press2 → get/be given a bad press3 → get/have a good press4 printing [countable] a) BBCTCNa business that prints and sometimes also sells books the Clarendon Press b) (also printing press)TCN a machine that prints books, newspapers, or magazines5 machine [countable]DHDL a piece of equipment used to put weight on something in order to make it flat or to force liquid out of it a trouser press a flower press6 push [countable, usually singular] especially British EnglishPUSH a light steady push against something small Give the button another press.7 → go to press8 crowd [singular + of] especially British EnglishCROWD a crowd of people pushing against each otherCOLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + pressthe national pressThere was very little about the incident in the national press.the local pressEvening classes are advertised in the local press.the British/American etc pressThe British press have blamed other countries for North Sea pollution.the foreign pressAfrican countries want the foreign press to report African affairs.the quality press (=newspapers intended for educated people)The book received excellent reviews in the quality press.the tabloid/popular press (=popular newspapers that have a lot of news about famous people etc, rather than serious news)He regularly appeared in the tabloid press alongside well-known actresses.the gutter press British English (=newspapers that print shocking stories about people’s private lives)The gutter press enjoyed printing the sensational story.a free press (=reporters whose reports are not restricted by the government)I am glad that we have a free press in this country.verbstalk/speak to the pressHe is reluctant to talk to the press.tell the press something‘It was a really tough decision, ’ she told the press.leak something to the press (=give them secret information in an unofficial way)The confidential report was leaked to the press.press + NOUNpress reportsAccording to press reports, he was suffering from exhaustion.press coverage (=articles in newspapers)The event received a lot of press coverage.a press photographerA group of press photographers was waiting for her outside.Examples from the Corpus
press• Put the garlic through a press.• a press photographer• a bench press• The first press run of the magazine is 300,000 copies.• Event information is accurate as of press time.• Daughter Pat is head of the specialty press operation in the White House media affairs office.• Political awareness was further heightened by the press.• At one stage a bleeper went off in the press gallery which woke up one or two slumbering hacks.• Mrs Metz explained that we desired to avoid the route past the press room.• Making her way through the press of fans and well-wishers, Halliwell got into a taxi.• The box opens with the press of a button.• The press was at first unhelpful in either explaining or interpreting the events.• Jobs weren't easy but eventually he fixed a slot as a night wire man at a Toronto press agency.• Wesleyan University Press• a wine presspresspress2 ●●● S1 W2 verb 1 against something [transitive always + adverb/preposition]PUSH to push something firmly against a surface SYN 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.2 button [transitive]PRESS to push a button, switch etc to make a machine start, a bell ring etc SYN push Lily pressed the switch and plunged the room into darkness. Press control, alt, delete to log on to the computer.3 clothes [transitive]DC to make clothes smooth using a hot iron SYN iron I’ll need to press my suit.4 crowd [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]PUSH to move in a particular direction by pushing The car rocked as the crowd pressed hard against it.5 persuade [intransitive, transitive]PERSUADE 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.press somebody to do something The police pressed her to remember all the details.press somebody for something The manufacturers are pressing the government for action.press for We must continue to press for full equality. I was pressing my claim for custody of the child. 6 heavy weight [transitive]FLAT 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.7 hold somebody/something close [transitive]HOLD to hold someone or something close to youpress somebody/something to you He reached out and pressed her to him.8 → press somebody’s hand/arm9 → press charges10 → be pressed for time/cash etc11 give [transitive] to offer something to someone and try to make them take itpress something on somebody I pressed money on him, but he refused to take it.12 exercise [transitive] to push a weight up from your chest using only your arms, without moving your legs or feet13 → press somebody/something into service14 → press the flesh15 → press something home16 → press home your advantage17 record [transitive]TCR to make a copy of a record, CD etc → be hard pressed to do something at hard2(5)THESAURUSpress to push something down or against a surface with your fingers or footThe doctor gently pressed her stomach.To move forward, press the accelerator.I pressed ‘delete’ and started again.squeeze to press something inwards from both sidesIt’s one of those balls that make a funny noise when you squeeze it.Squeeze the lemon and add the juice to the sauce.squash to press something against a surface accidentally and damage it by making it flatDon’t squash the tomatoes.He sat on my hat and squashed it.crush to press something very hard so that it breaks into very small pieces, or is very badly damagedCrush two cloves of garlic.The front of the car was completely crushed in the crash.mash to press cooked vegetables or fruit until they are soft and smoothMash the potatoes while they are warm.Babies love mashed bananas.grind to press something solid until it becomes a powder, using a machine or toolthe machine that grinds the cornfreshly ground coffee → press on→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
press• Bake for about 20 minutes more, until cake is brown and feels firm when gently pressed.• Those shown in the brochure are for guidance only and may have changed since we went to press.• How much can you press?• Without thinking, he pressed a button on the desktop.• Their tiny faces were pressed against the window.• The first and most pressing demand upon me was the immediate safety of the capital and the government.• His hands pressed down on both her shoulders.• Kate pressed forward through the crowd to take her place.• As the race started the crowd pressed forward towards the track.• The doctor gently pressed her stomach.• The cookie dough is then pressed into small shapes and baked in a hot oven.• Our fighter group took care of them in short order, however, and we pressed on to launch the attack.• The security men tried to hold back crowds of reporters pressing round the President's car.• Mattie pressed the automatic device on her dashboard and the garage door eased upwards for the Lincoln to slide smoothly in.• I pressed the brake pedal, but nothing happened.• Andy pressed the cool glass to his forehead.• We pressed the flowers between the pages of a book.• The hand-operated machine presses the grapes to produce a dark liquid.• Friends come to help us gather the crop and press the grapes.• To get coffee, put your money in the machine and press the green button.• She stuffed the papers back in the box and pressed the lid down.• We each attach a bracelet to our wrist then press the palm of our other hand on to the metal pad.• I'm not going to press those shirts for you.• Which key do I press to delete it?• Enough olives had been gathered and pressed to produce 1000 litres of cooking oil.• They can press up their own records and sell them through local shops and radio.pressed ... switch• The driver pressed the switch fully down and the beam became of blinding intensity.• Lily moved away from him and pressed the switch that plunged the room into darkness.pressing ... claim• It has no pressing economic claim on my conscience.press somebody/something to you• He pressed me tighter to him.• I pressed her to me and let her get it over with.• I picked him up and pressed him to me.• I was pressing to prove to myself I deserved the job.• She'd wanted to press him to her and to stroke the thin, vulnerable nape of his neck.• She held Tom close and pressed her cheek to his.From Longman Business Dictionarypresspress1 /pres/ verb1[intransitive, transitive] to try hard to persuade someone to do somethingInvestor Harold Simmons is pressing to have the company’s annual meeting delayed.press somebody to do somethingFinance Ministry officials are pressing the brokerage houses to eliminate the problem.The extension will give the union more time to press Chrysler to keep the plant open.2[transitive] if someone presses a claim, demand etc, they continue trying to get it acceptedChina is pressing its claim to the scattered territories, some of which have oil-drilling potential.We will continue to press our case vigorously in the courts.3press charges press an action American EnglishLAW to say officially that someone has done something illegal and must go to courtA Citicorp official said the bank would not be pressing charges.The government is pressing a civil action to get the money from investors. → press ahead → press ( somebody) for something→ See Verb tablepresspress2 noun1the press the people writing for the newspapers, radio, or televisionThe judgement reflected badly on the press, including his own newspaper.a meeting with the financial press2[singular, uncountable] reports in the newspapers and on radio and televisiona savage attack on the banking sector inthe local press reports.Criticism from the investigation committee could lead to some unpleasant press coverage (=reports in the newspapers, on television etc).The FBI has been getting a bad press lately (=there have been a lot of reports criticizing it in the newspapers etc).3[countable] a business that prints and sometimes sells booksa small independent pressthe University of Chicago PressOrigin press2 (1300-1400) Old French presser, from Latin pressare, from premere “to press”; → PRINT2 