compress
to press together; force into less space.
to cause to become a solid mass: to compress cotton into bales.
to condense, shorten, or abbreviate: The book was compressed by 50 pages.
Computers. to reduce the storage space required for (data) by changing its format: The algorithm should compress the video file without losing any quality.
Medicine/Medical. a soft, cloth pad held in place by a bandage and used to provide pressure or to supply moisture, cold, heat, or medication.
an apparatus for compressing cotton bales.
a warehouse for storing cotton bales before shipment.
Origin of compress
1synonym study For compress
Other words for compress
Opposites for compress
Other words from compress
- com·press·i·ble, adjective
- com·press·i·bly, adverb
- com·press·ing·ly, adverb
- non·com·pres·si·ble, adjective
- o·ver·com·press, verb (used with object)
- pre·com·press, verb (used with object)
- un·com·press·i·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use compress in a sentence
Fluids are divided into liquids, or incompressible fluids, and gases, or compressible fluids.
There is a certain compensation, however, in the fact that alcohol is very easily compressible.
Marvels of Scientific Invention | Thomas W. CorbinBut Opium is preferable in cases where there is gastric irritation, and a weak compressible pulse.
The Action of Medicines in the System | Frederick William HeadlandAbout mid-day the pulse has come down to 80; and though feeble and compressible is a very respectable pulse.
Notes on Nursing | Florence NightingaleMoist, soft, and easily compressible soil is to the larva of the Cigale what digested wood-pulp is to the others.
Social Life in the Insect World | J. H. Fabre
British Dictionary definitions for compress
(tr) to squeeze together or compact into less space; condense
computing to apply a compression program to (electronic data) so that it takes up less space
a wet or dry cloth or gauze pad with or without medication, applied firmly to some part of the body to relieve discomfort, reduce fever, drain a wound, etc
a machine for packing material, esp cotton, under pressure
Origin of compress
1Derived forms of compress
- compressible, adjective
- compressibleness, noun
- compressibly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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