pressure

American  

[presh-er] / ˈprɛʃ ər /

noun

1. the exertion of force upon a surface by an object, fluid, etc., in contact with it.

   the pressure of earth against a wall.

2. Physics. force per unit area. P

3. Meteorology. atmospheric pressure.

4. Electricity. electromotive force.

5. the state of being pressed or compressed.

6. harassment; oppression.

   the pressures of daily life.

7. a constraining or compelling force or influence.

   the social pressures of city life;

   financial pressure.

8. urgency, as of affairs or business.

   He works well under pressure.

9. Obsolete. that which is impressed.

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verb (used with object)

pressured, pressuring

1. to force (someone) toward a particular end; influence.

   They pressured him into accepting the contract.

2. pressurize.

pressure British  

/ ˈprɛʃə /

noun

1. the state of pressing or being pressed

2. the exertion of force by one body on the surface of another

3. a moral force that compels

   to bring pressure to bear

4. an urgent claim or demand or series of urgent claims or demands

   to work under pressure

5. a burdensome condition that is hard to bear

   the pressure of grief

6.  p.   P.  the normal force applied to a unit area of a surface, usually measured in pascals (newtons per square metre), millibars, torr, or atmospheres

7. short for atmospheric pressure blood pressure

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verb

1. (tr) to constrain or compel, as by the application of moral force

2. another word for pressurize

pressure Scientific  

/ prĕsh′ər /

1. The force per unit area that one region of a gas, liquid, or solid exerts on another. Pressure is usually measured in Pascal units, atmospheres, or pounds per square inch.

2. ◆ A substance is said to have negative pressure if some other substance exerts more force per unit area on it than vice versa. Its value is simply the negative of the pressure exerted by the other substance.

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pressure Cultural  

1. The force exerted on a given area. (See atmospheric pressure.)

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Discover More

The most familiar measure of pressure is psi (pounds per square inch), used to rate pressure in automobile and bicycle tires.

Other Word Forms

• interpressure adjective
• nonpressure noun
• pressureless adjective
• superpressure noun
• underpressure noun
• unpressured adjective

Etymology

Origin of pressure

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (noun), from Latin pressūra; press ¹, -ure

Example Sentences

The company’s TV programmers are under pressure to boost their slate of original television and streaming shows.

From Los Angeles Times

Americans 80 and older, whose numbers are projected to increase from 14.7 million to nearly 23 million over the next decade, will put unprecedented pressure on our healthcare system.

From The Wall Street Journal

The continuing protests add more pressure on the government struggling to contain widespread discontent.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It was tough. I didn't play my best and had a lot of loose darts, but that's what pressure does to you. Andreas kept me under pressure all the time."

From BBC

They play Burkina Faso in their final group game on Wednesday and do so with the pressure off because they are already assured of progressing to the last 16.

From Barron's

Related Words

• adversity
• burden
• constraint
• force
• hardship
• heat
• influence
• power
• strain
• stress
• tension
• trouble
• weight