press·ing (prĕśĭng)

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adjective 

1. Demanding immediate attention; urgent: a pressing need. See synonyms at urgent
2. Very earnest or persistent; insistent: a pressing invitation.

noun 

1. The process or an instance of applying pressure by means of a press.
2. 1. A phonograph record pressed from a master mold or matrix.
   2. A number of recordings pressed at the same time.
3. Urgent solicitation; insistence.

derivatives

presśing·ly

adverb

press¹ (prĕs)

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[Middle English pressen, from Old French presser, from Latin pressāre frequentative of premere, to press.]

verb: pressed, press·ing, press·es. 

transitive verb 

1. To exert steady weight or force against; bear down on.
2. 1. To squeeze the juice or other contents from.
   2. To extract (juice, for example) by squeezing or compressing.
3. 1. To reshape or make compact by applying steady force; compress.
   2. To iron (clothing, for example).
4. To clasp in fondness or politeness.
5. To try to influence, as by insistent arguments; importune or entreat: He pressed her for a reply.
6. To urge or force to action; impel.
7. To place in trying or distressing circumstances; harass or oppress.
8. To move (keys on a computer keyboard, for example) by applying pressure.
9. To lay stress on; emphasize.
10. To advance or carry on vigorously: “Far from backing down, he pressed the attack” (Justin Kaplan)
11. To put forward importunately or insistently: press an argument.
12. To make (a phonograph record or videodisc) from a mold or matrix.
13. Sports To lift (a weight) to a position above the head without moving the legs.

intransitive verb 

1. To exert force or pressure.
2. To weigh heavily, as on the mind.
3. To advance eagerly; push forward.
4. To require haste; be urgent.
5. To iron clothes or other material.
6. To assemble closely and in large numbers; crowd.
7. To employ urgent persuasion or entreaty.
8. Sports To raise or lift a weight in a press.
9. Basketball To employ a press.

noun 

1. Any of various machines or devices that apply pressure.
2. Any of various machines used for printing; a printing press.
3. A place or establishment where matter is printed.
4. The art, method, or business of printing.
5. 1. The collecting and publishing or broadcasting of news; journalism in general.
   2. The entirety of media and agencies that collect, publish, transmit, or broadcast the news.
   3. The people involved in the media, as news reporters, photographers, publishers, and broadcasters.
   4. Commentary or coverage especially in print media: “Like the pool hall and the tattoo parlor, the motorcycle usually gets a bad press” (R.Z. Sheppard)
6. The act of gathering in large numbers or of pushing forward.
7. A large gathering; a throng. See synonyms at crowd¹
8. 1. The act of applying pressure.
   2. The state of being pressed.
9. The haste or urgency of business or matters.
10. The set of proper creases in a garment or fabric, formed by ironing.
11. Chiefly Northeastern U.S. An upright closet or case used for storing clothing, books, or other articles.
12. A viselike device for keeping a racket from warping.
13. Sports A lift in weightlifting in which the weight is raised to shoulder level and then steadily pushed straight overhead without movement of the legs.
14. Basketball An aggressive defense tactic in which players guard opponents closely, often over the entire court.

idioms

go to press

To be submitted for printing.

in press

Submitted for printing; in the process of being printed.

pressed for time

In a hurry; under time pressure.

press the flesh

To shake hands and mingle with many people, especially while campaigning for public office.

press² (prĕs)

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[Alteration of obsolete prest, to hire for military service by advance payment, from Middle English, enlistment money, loan, from Old French, from prester, to lend, from Medieval Latin praestāre, from Latin, to furnish, from praestō, present, at hand.]

transitive verb: pressed, press·ing, press·es. 

1. To force into service in the army or navy; impress.
2. 1. To take arbitrarily or by force, especially for public use.
   2. To use in a manner different from the usual or intended, especially in an emergency.

noun 

1. Conscription or impressment into service, especially into the army or navy.
2. Obsolete An official warrant for impressing men into military service.