compress

Meanings

Verb

• To make smaller; to press or squeeze together, or to make something occupy a smaller space or volume.
• To be pressed together or folded by compression into a more economic, easier format.
• To condense into a more economic, easier format.
• To abridge.
• To make digital information smaller by encoding it using fewer bits.
• To embrace sexually.

Noun

• 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.

Related

Similar words

• contract

Opposite words

• (press together): expand
• (be pressed together): decontract
• (condense, abridge): expand, lengthen
• (make computing data smaller): uncompress

Origin

• From Middle English compressen, from Old French compresser, from Late Latin compressare ("to press hard/together"), from Latin compressus, the past participle of comprimō, itself from com- + premō.
• From Middle French compresse, from compresse, from Late Latin compressare ("to press hard/together"), from Latin compressus, the past participle of comprimō, itself from com- + premō.