See Also: compress 1, verb(dictionary)
Compress(health)
compress(2)(dictionary)
compress(1)(dictionary)
wet compress(medicine)
ice compress(medicine)
compress(medicine)
graduated compress(medicine)
cold compress(medicine)
compress 2, noun(dictionary)

compress 1, verb (oh)



[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: compressare 'to press hard', from Latin comprimere 'to compress', from com- ( COM-) + premere 'to press']
[I and T] to press something or make it smaller so that it takes up less space, or to become smaller
::Light silk is best for parachutes, as it compresses well and then expands rapidly.
::Isobel nodded, her lips compressed.
compress sth into sth
::Snow falling on the mountainsides is compressed into ice.
::The miners used rock drills and compressed air to drive through hard rock.
[I and T] to make a computer file smaller by using a special computer program, which makes the file easier to store or send, or to become smaller in this way
::The program compresses any data saved to the disk.
[T] to write or express something using fewer words
-synonym condense condense compress sth into sth
::In this chapter we compress into summary form the main issues discussed so far.
[T ] to reduce the amount of time that it takes for something to happen or be done
compress sth into sth
::Many couples want to compress their childbearing into a short space of time in their married life.
-- compressible adj
-- compression /-5preFEn/ n [U]
::data compression