press

1
[ pres ]
/ prɛs /

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Idioms for press

    go to press, to begin being printed: The last edition has gone to press.
    press the flesh, Informal. flesh(def 24).

Origin of press

1
1175–1225; (noun) Middle English press(e) throng, company, trouble, machine for pressing, clothespress < Old French, derivative of presser to press < Latin pressāre, frequentative of premere (past participle pressus) to press (compare rare Old English press clothespress < Medieval Latin pressa, noun use of feminine of pressus); (v.) Middle English pressen (< Old French presser) < Latin pressāre, as above

OTHER WORDS FROM press

press·a·ble, adjective

Definition for press (2 of 3)

press 2
[ pres ]
/ prɛs /

verb (used with object)

to force into service, especially naval or military service; impress.
to make use of in a manner different from that intended or desired: French taxis were pressed into service as troop transports.

noun

impressment into service, especially naval or military service.

Origin of press

2
1535–45; back formation from prest, past participle of obsolete prest to take (men) for military service, v. use of prest2 in sense “enlistment money”

Definition for press (3 of 3)

Press
[ pres ]
/ prɛs /

noun

a male given name.

Example sentences from the Web for press

British Dictionary definitions for press (1 of 2)

press 1
/ (prɛs) /

verb

noun

Word Origin for press

C14 pressen, from Old French presser, from Latin pressāre, from premere to press

British Dictionary definitions for press (2 of 2)

press 2
/ (prɛs) /

verb (tr)

to recruit (men) by forcible measures for military service
to use for a purpose other than intended, (esp in the phrase press into service)

noun

recruitment into military service by forcible measures, as by a press gang

Word Origin for press

C16: back formation from prest to recruit soldiers; see prest ²; also influenced by press 1

Idioms and Phrases with press

press