Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage
China

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: presser, from Latin pressare, from premere 'to press'; PRINT2

press

2 verb
     
press2 S1 W2
1

against something

[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to push something firmly against a surface [= push]:
Manville kept his back pressed flat against the wall.
She pressed the gas pedal and the car leapt forwards.
He pressed a card into her hand before leaving.
2

button

[transitive] to push a button, switch etc to make a machine start, a bell ring etc [= push]:
Lily pressed the switch and plunged the room into darkness.
Press control, alt, delete to log on to the computer.
3

clothes

[transitive]DC to make clothes smooth using a hot iron [= iron]:
I'll need to press my suit.
4

crowd

[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move in a particular direction by pushing:
The car rocked as the crowd pressed hard against it.
5

persuade

[intransitive and transitive] to try hard to persuade someone to do something, especially by asking them many times:
I felt that if I had pressed him he would have lent me the money.
press somebody to do something
The police pressed her to remember all the details.
press somebody for something
The manufacturers are pressing the government for action.
press for
We must continue to press for full equality.
I was pressing my claim for custody of the child.
6

heavy weight

[transitive] to put pressure or a weight on something to make it flat, crush it etc:
pressed flowers
At this stage the grapes have to be pressed.
7

hold somebody/something close

[transitive] to hold someone or something close to you
press somebody/something to you
He reached out and pressed her to him.
8

press somebody's hand/arm

to hold someone's hand or arm tightly for a short time, to show friendship, sympathy etc:
Sometimes he was too ill to speak, and just pressed my hand.
9

press charges

SCL to say officially that someone has done something illegal and must go to court
10

be pressed for time/cash etc

to not have enough time, money etc:
a government department that is pressed for both time and money
11

give

[transitive] to offer something to someone and try to make them take it
press something on somebody
I pressed money on him, but he refused to take it.
12

exercise

[transitive] to push a weight up from your chest using only your arms, without moving your legs or feet
13

press somebody/something into service

to persuade someone to help you, or to use something to help you do something because of an unexpected problem or need:
The army was pressed into service to fight the fires.
14

press the flesh

to shake hands with a lot of people - used humorously:
The President reached into the crowd to press the flesh.
15

press something home

a) to push something into its place:
Jane slammed the door and pressed the bolt home.
b) to repeat or emphasize something, so that people remember it:
He decided it was the time to press his point home.
16

press home your advantage

to try to succeed completely, using an advantage that you have gained
17

record

[transitive]TCR to make a copy of a record, CD etc

➔ be hard pressed to do something

at hard2 (5)

press on

phrasal verb
also press ahead to continue doing something, especially working, in a determined way:
We'll talk about your suggestion later - now let's just press on.
press on with
Shall we press ahead with the minutes of the last meeting?
Pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
prawn definition from the Longman Online English Dictionary swimming pool definition from the Longman Online English Dictionary whipped cream definition from the Longman Online English Dictionary bikini definition from the Longman Online English Dictionary
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.
在谈到来源