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noun Press n. (Zool.) An East Indian insectivore (Tupaia ferruginea). It is arboreal in its habits, and has a bushy tail. The fur is soft, and varies from rusty red to maroon and to brownish black.
Press n. A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy. "I have misused the king's press." Press gang, or Pressgang, a detachment of seamen under the command of an officer empowered to force men into the naval service. See Impress gang, under Impress. Press money, money paid to a man enlisted into public service. See Prest money, under Prest, a.
Press n. 1.An apparatus or machine by which any substance or body is pressed, squeezed, stamped, or shaped, or by which an impression of a body is taken; sometimes, the place or building containing a press or presses. Note: Presses are differently constructed for various purposes in the arts, their specific uses being commonly designated; as, a cotton press, a wine press, a cider press, a copying press, etc. See Drill press. 2.Specifically, a printing press. 3.The art or business of printing and publishing; hence, printed publications, taken collectively, more especially newspapers or the persons employed in writing for them; as, a free press is a blessing, a licentious press is a curse. 4.An upright case or closet for the safe keeping of articles; as, a clothes press. 5.The act of pressing or thronging forward. "In their throng and press to that last hold." 6.Urgent demands of business or affairs; urgency; as, a press of engagements. 7.A multitude of individuals crowded together; a crowd of single things; a throng. "They could not come nigh unto him for the press." Cylinder press, a printing press in which the impression is produced by a revolving cylinder under which the form passes; also, one in which the form of type or plates is curved around a cylinder, instead of resting on a flat bed. Hydrostatic press. See under Hydrostatic. Liberty of the press, the free right of publishing books, pamphlets, or papers, without previous restraint or censorship, subject only to punishment for libelous, seditious, or morally pernicious matters. Press bed, a bed that may be folded, and inclosed, in a press or closet. Press of sail, (Naut.), as much sail as the state of the wind will permit.
verb Press v. t. To force into service, particularly into naval service; to impress. "To peaceful peasant to the wars is pressed."
Press v. t. (past & past part. pressed; pres. part. pressing) 1.To urge, or act upon, with force, as weight; to act upon by pushing or thrusting, in distinction from pulling; to crowd or compel by a gradual and continued exertion; to bear upon; to squeeze; to compress; as, we press the ground with the feet when we walk; we press the couch on which we repose; we press substances with the hands, fingers, or arms; we are pressed in a crowd. "Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together." 2.To squeeze, in order to extract the juice or contents of; to squeeze out, or express, from something. "From sweet kernels pressed, She tempers dulcet creams." "And I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand." 3.To squeeze in or with suitable instruments or apparatus, in order to compact, make dense, or smooth; as, to press cotton bales, paper, etc.; to smooth by ironing; as, to press clothes. 4.To embrace closely; to hug. "Leucothoe shook at these alarms, And pressed Palemon closer in her arms." 5.To oppress; to bear hard upon. "Press not a falling man too far." 6.To straiten; to distress; as, to be pressed with want or hunger. 7.To exercise very powerful or irresistible influence upon or over; to constrain; to force; to compel. "Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ." 8.To try to force (something upon some one); to urge or inculcate with earnestness or importunity; to enforce; as, to press divine truth on an audience. "He pressed a letter upon me within this hour." "Be sure to press upon him every motive." 9.To drive with violence; to hurry; to urge on; to ply hard; as, to press a horse in a race. "The posts... went cut, being hastened and pressed on, by the king's commandment." Note: Press differs from drive and strike in usually denoting a slow or continued application of force; whereas drive and strike denote a sudden impulse of force. Pressed brick. See under Brick.
Press v. i. 1.To exert pressure; to bear heavily; to push, crowd, or urge with steady force. 2.To move on with urging and crowding; to make one's way with violence or effort; to bear onward forcibly; to crowd; to throng; to encroach. "They pressed upon him for to touch him." 3.To urge with vehemence or importunity; to exert a strong or compelling influence; as, an argument presses upon the judgment.
Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48
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