pres·sure
(prĕsh́ər)
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin pressūra, from pressus past participle of premere, to press.]
noun
- The act of pressing.
- The condition of being pressed.
- The application of continuous force by one body on another that it is touching; compression.
- Physics Force applied uniformly over a surface, measured as force per unit of area.
- Meteorology Atmospheric pressure.
- A compelling or constraining influence, such as a moral force, on the mind or will: pressure to conform; peer-group pressure.
- Urgent claim or demand: under the pressure of business; doesn't work well under pressure.
- An oppressive condition of physical, mental, social, or economic distress.
- A physical sensation produced by compression of a part of the body.
- Archaic A mark made by application of force or weight; an impression.
transitive verb: -sured, -sur·ing, -sures.
- To force, as by overpowering influence or persuasion.
- To pressurize.
- To pressure-cook.
