impression

[im-presh-uhn]

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noun

a strong effect produced on the intellect, feelings, conscience, etc.

the first and immediate effect of an experience or perception upon the mind; sensation.

the effect produced by an agency or influence.

a notion, remembrance, belief, etc., often of a vague or indistinct nature: He had a general impression of lights, voices, and the clinking of silver.

a mark, indentation, figure, etc., produced by pressure.

an image in the mind caused by something external to it.

the act of impressing; state of being impressed.

Dentistry. a mold taken, in plastic materials or plaster of Paris, of teeth and the surrounding tissues.

an imitation of the voice, mannerisms, and other traits of a person, especially a famous person, as by an entertainer: The comedian did a hilarious impression of the president.

Chiefly Printing.

the process or result of printing from type, plates, etc.
a printed copy from type, a plate, an engraved block, etc.
one of a number of printings made at different times from the same set of type, without alteration (distinguished from edition).
the total number of copies of a book, pamphlet, etc., printed at one time from one setting of type or from one set of plates.

Metalworking. a portion of a die having in reverse the intended form of an object to be forged.

Origin of impression

1325–75; Middle English impressio(u)n < Latin impressiōn- (stem of impressiō), equivalent to impress(us) (see impress¹) + -iōn- -ion

Related formsim·pres·sion·al, adjectiveim·pres·sion·al·ly, adverbim·pres·sion·less, adjectivepre·im·pres·sion, noun

Synonyms for impression

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2. impact, imprint. 4. feeling.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for impression

impact, reaction, effect, consequence, feeling, response, concept, perception, belief, image, memory, thought, theory, recollection, suspicion, sense, opinion, notion, view, imprint

Examples from the Web for impression

Contemporary Examples of impression

“I found him to to be an interesting person,” Krauss said of the first impression.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking
M.L. Nestel
January 8, 2015
But he told me recently that Malia would do my impression of him to him.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness
Marlow Stern
January 7, 2015
And then I met him before I started doing the impression of him when he was a guest on SNL for a moment.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness
Marlow Stern
January 7, 2015
“I have not gotten the impression that they have their minds made up or they are not open to new information,” Stammberger said.
FBI Won’t Stop Blaming North Korea for Sony Hack -- Despite New Evidence
Shane Harris
December 30, 2014
They also give the impression that you have a neatly organized life.
Handbags: The More You Pay, The Smaller They Shrink
Elizabeth Landers
December 29, 2014

Historical Examples of impression

Of this, there is an impression on my mind too strong to admit of doubt.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
Its calmness gave the impression of a wisdom behind it that had no existence.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
This is, at least, the impression left on us by an anecdote told by Elwin.
De Libris: Prose and Verse
Austin Dobson
Just at the outset, the act of seeing made not the least impression on her numbed brain.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
There will be time enough for the impression to be made after you are married.
The Imaginary Invalid
Molire

British Dictionary definitions for impression

impression

noun

an effect produced in the mind by a stimulus; sensationhe gave the impression of wanting to help

an imprint or mark produced by pressinghe left the impression of his finger in the mud

a vague idea, consciousness, or beliefI had the impression we had met before

a strong, favourable, or remarkable effecthe made an impression on the managers

the act of impressing or the state of being impressed

printing

the act, process, or result of printing from type, plates, etc
one of a number of printings of a publication printed from the same setting of type with no or few alterationsCompare edition (def. 2)
the total number of copies of a publication printed at one time

dentistry an imprint of the teeth and gums, esp in wax or plaster, for use in preparing crowns, inlays, or dentures

an imitation or impersonationhe did a funny impression of the politician

Derived Formsimpressional, adjectiveimpressionally, 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

Word Origin and History for impression

late 14c., "mark produced by pressure," also "image produced in the mind or emotions," from Old French impression "print, stamp; a pressing on the mind," from Latin impressionem (nominative impressio) "onset, attack," figuratively "perception," literally "a pressing into," from imprimere (see impress). Meaning "act or process of indenting" is early 15c.; that of "printing of a number of copies" is from 1570s. Meaning "belief, vague notion" (as in under the impression) is from 1610s.

impression in Medicine

impression

[ĭm-prĕsh′ən]

n.

An effect, a feeling, or an image retained as a consequence of experience.

A mark or indentation made by the pressure of one organ on the surface of another.

An imprint of the teeth and surrounding tissues, formed with a plastic material that hardens into a mold for use in making dentures, inlays, or plastic models.

Idioms and Phrases with impression

impression

see make an impression under the impression.