to act upon with steadily applied weight or force.

to move by weight or force in a certain direction or into a certain position

The crowd pressed him into a corner.

to compress or squeeze, as to alter in shape or size

He pressed the clay into a ball.

to weigh heavily upon; subject to pressure.

to hold closely, as in an embrace; clasp

He pressed her in his arms.

to flatten or make smooth, esp. by ironing

to press clothes; to press flowers in the leaves of a book.

to extract juice, sugar, etc., from by pressure

to press grapes.

to squeeze out or express, as juice

to press the juice from grapes.

to beset or harass; afflict

He was pressed by problems on all sides.

to trouble or oppress; put into a difficult position, as by depriving

Poverty pressed them hard.

to urge or entreat strongly or insistently

to press for payment of a debt; to press for an answer.

to emphasize or propound forcefully; insist upon

He pressed his own ideas on us.

to plead with insistence

to press a claim.

to urge onward; hasten

He pressed his horse to go faster.

to push forward.

to manufacture (phonograph records, videodiscs, or the like), esp. by stamping from a mold or matrix.

to exert weight, force, or pressure.

Weightlifting . to raise or lift, esp. a specified amount of weight, in a press.

to iron clothing, curtains, etc.

to bear heavily, as upon the mind.

(of athletes and competitors) to perform tensely or overanxiously, as when one feels pressured or is determined to break out of a slump; strain because of frustration

For days he hasn't seemed able to buy a hit, and he's been pressing.

to compel haste

Time presses.

to demand immediate attention.

to use urgent entreaty

to press for an answer.

to push forward or advance with force, eagerness, or haste

The army pressed to reach the river by dawn.

to crowd or throng.

Basketball . to employ a press.

an act of pressing; pressure.

the state of being pressed.

printed publications collectively, esp. newspapers and periodicals.

all the media and agencies that print, broadcast, or gather and transmit news, including newspapers, newsmagazines, radio and television news bureaus, and wire services.

the editorial employees, taken collectively, of these media and agencies.

( often used with a plural verb ) a group of news reporters, or of news reporters and news photographers

The press are in the outer office, waiting for a statement.

the consensus of the general critical commentary or the amount of coverage accorded a person, thing, or event, esp. in newspapers and periodicals (often prec. by good or bad )

The play received a good press. The minister's visit got a bad press.

printing press.

an establishment for printing books, magazines, etc.

the process or art of printing.

any of various devices or machines for exerting pressure, stamping, or crushing.

a wooden or metal viselike device for preventing a tennis or other racket from warping when not in use.

a pressing or pushing forward.

a crowding, thronging, or pressing together; collective force

The press of the crowd drove them on.

a crowd, throng, or multitude.

the desired smooth or creased effect caused by ironing or pressing

His suit was out of press.

pressure or urgency, as of affairs or business.

an upright case or other piece of furniture for holding clothes, books, pamphlets, etc.

Basketball . an aggressive form of defense in which players guard opponents very closely.

Weightlifting . a lift in which the barbell, after having been lifted from the ground up to chest level, is pushed to a position overhead with the arms extended straight up, without moving the legs or feet. ?

go to press

to begin being printed

The last edition has gone to press.

press the flesh

Informal . flesh ( def. 23 ) .

noun

calm , harmony , peace

verb

pull , leave alone

noun

columnist , correspondent , editor , fourth estate * , interviewer , journalism , journalist , magazine , media , newspaper , newsperson , paper , periodical , photographer , publicist , publisher , reporter , writer , bunch , crowd , crush , drove , flock , herd , host , mob , multitude , pack , push , swarm , throng , bustle , confusion , demand , hassle , haste , hurry , rush , stress , urgency , fourth estate , medium , horde , mass , ruck

verb

bear down , bear heavily , bulldoze * , clasp , compress , condense , constrain , crowd , crush , cumber , depress , embrace , enfold , express , finish , flatten , force down , hold , hug , impel , iron , jam , level , mangle , mash , mass , move , pack , pile , pin down , ram , reduce , scrunch , shove , smooth , squash , squeeze , squish , steam , stuff , thrust , unwrinkle , weigh , afflict , assail , beg , beset , besiege , buttonhole * , come at , compel , demand , disquiet , enjoin , entreat , exhort , force , harass , implore , importune , insist on , lean on , oppress , petition , plague , plead , pressurize , push , railroad * , sadden , sell , sue , supplicate , torment , urge , vex , weigh down , work on , worry , flock , mob , throng , bear , bind , bother , bunch , cram , crunch , drive , emphasize , gather , hasten , horde , impact , impress , imprint , knead , pressure , roller , rush , tax , wring