COMPRESS

compress

(noun) a cloth pad or dressing (with or without medication) applied firmly to some part of the body (to relieve discomfort or reduce fever)

compress, constrict, squeeze, compact, contract, press

(verb) squeeze or press together; “she compressed her lips”; “the spasm contracted the muscle”

compress, compact, pack together

(verb) make more compact by or as if by pressing; “compress the data”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology 1

Verb

compress (third-person singular simple present compresses, present participle compressing, simple past and past participle compressed)

(transitive) To make smaller; to press or squeeze together, or to make something occupy a smaller space or volume.

(intransitive) To be pressed together or folded by compression into a more economic, easier format.

(transitive) To condense into a more economic, easier format.

(transitive) To abridge.

(technology, transitive) To make digital information smaller by encoding it using fewer bits.

(obsolete) To embrace sexually.

Synonyms

• (press together): compact, condense, pack, press, squash, squeeze; see also compress

• (be pressed together): contract

• (condense, abridge): abridge, condense, shorten, truncate; see also shorten

Antonyms

• (press together): expand

• (be pressed together): decontract

• (condense, abridge): expand, lengthen

• (make computing data smaller): uncompress

Etymology 2

Noun

compress (plural compresses)

A multiply folded piece of cloth, a pouch of ice etc, used to apply to a patient's skin, cover the dressing of wounds, and placed with the aid of a bandage to apply pressure on an injury.

A machine for compressing

Source: Wiktionary

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Com*press", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compressed; p. pr & vb. n. Compressing.] Etym: [L. compressus, p. p. of comprimere to compress: com- + premere to press. See Press.]

1. To press or squeeze together; to force into a narrower compass; to reduce the volume of by pressure; to compact; to condense; as, to compress air or water. Events of centuries . . . compressed within the compass of a single life. D. Webster. The same strength of expression, though more compressed, runs through his historical harangues. Melmoth.

2. To embrace sexually. [Obs.] Pope.

Syn.

– To crowd; squeeze; condense; reduce; abridge.

Com"press, n. Etym: [F. compresse.] (Surg.)

Definition: A folded piece of cloth, pledget of lint, etc., used to cover the dressing of wounds, and so placed as, by the aid of a bandage, to make due pressure on any part.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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