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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Compress

Com-press', v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. COMPRESSED (kom-prĕst'); p. pr. & vb. n. COMPRESSING.] [Lat. comprimere, compressum, from com, for con, and premere, pressum, to press, q. v.; L. Lat. compressare.]

Sense 1. To press together; to force, urge, or drive into a narrower compass; to bring within narrow limits or space; to crowd; as, to compress air; to compress style.

The weight of a thousand atmospheres will compress water twelve and a half per cent. Perkins.

Events of centuries ... compressed within the compass of a single life. D. Webster.

Sense 2. To embrace carnally. Pope.

Synonyms—To crowd; press; squeeze; condense.

Cŏm'press, n.

noun

n. [Fr. compresse. See supra.] (Surg.) A folded piece of soft linen cloth, so contrived as, by the aid of a bandage, to make due pressure on any part. Dunglison.