pressing

Noun · Adjective

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure“he gave the button a press”“he used pressure to stop the bleeding”“at the pressing of a button”Synonyms: press pressure
a metal or plastic part that is made by a mechanical press

Adjective (1)

compelling immediate action“too pressing to permit of longer delay”“the urgent words `Hurry! Hurry!'”“bridges in urgent need of repair”Synonyms: urgent

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Press \Press\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pressed; p. pr. & vb. n. Pressing.] [F. presser, fr. L. pressare to press, fr. premere, pressum, to press. Cf. Print, v.]

1.To urge, or act upon, with force, as weight; to act upon by pushing or thrusting, in distinction from pulling; to crowd or compel by a gradual and continued exertion; to bear upon; to squeeze; to compress; as, we press the ground with the feet when we walk; we press the couch on which we repose; we press substances with the hands, fingers, or arms; we are pressed in a crowd. [1913 Webster]

Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together.— Luke vi. 38.[1913 Webster]

2.To squeeze, in order to extract the juice or contents of; to squeeze out, or express, from something. [1913 Webster]

From sweet kernels pressed, She tempers dulcet creams.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

And I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.— Gen. xl. 11.[1913 Webster]

3.To squeeze in or with suitable instruments or apparatus, in order to compact, make dense, or smooth; as, to press cotton bales, paper, etc.; to smooth by ironing; as, to press clothes. [1913 Webster]

4.To embrace closely; to hug. [1913 Webster]

Leucothoe shook at these alarms, And pressed Palemon closer in her arms.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

5.To oppress; to bear hard upon. [1913 Webster]

Press not a falling man too far.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

6.To straiten; to distress; as, to be pressed with want or hunger. [1913 Webster]

7.To exercise very powerful or irresistible influence upon or over; to constrain; to force; to compel. [1913 Webster]

Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.— Acts xviii. 5.[1913 Webster]

8.To try to force (something upon some one); to urge or inculcate with earnestness or importunity; to enforce; as, to press divine truth on an audience. [1913 Webster]

He pressed a letter upon me within this hour.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

Be sure to press upon him every motive.— Addison.[1913 Webster]

9.To drive with violence; to hurry; to urge on; to ply hard; as, to press a horse in a race. [1913 Webster]

The posts . . . went cut, being hastened and pressed on, by the king's commandment.— Esther viii. 14.[1913 Webster]

Note: Press differs from drive and strike in usually denoting a slow or continued application of force; whereas drive and strike denote a sudden impulse of force. [1913 Webster]

Pressed brick. See under Brick. [1913 Webster]

Pressing \Press"ing\, a. Urgent; exacting; importunate; as, a pressing necessity. -- Press"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]