Press1  —v. 1 apply steady force to (a thing in contact). 2 a compress or squeeze a thing to flatten, shape, or smooth it. B squeeze (a fruit etc.) To extract its juice. 3 (foll. By out of, from, etc.) Squeeze (juice etc.). 4 embrace or caress by squeezing (pressed my hand). 5 (foll. By on, against, etc.) Exert pressure. 6 be urgent; demand immediate action. 7 (foll. By for) make an insistent demand. 8 (foll. By up, round, etc.) Crowd. 9 (foll. By on, forward, etc.) Hasten insistently. 10 (often in passive) (of an enemy etc.) Bear heavily on. 11 (often foll. By for, or to + infin.) Urge or entreat (pressed me to stay; pressed me for an answer). 12 (foll. By on, upon) a urge (an opinion, claim, or course of action). B force (an offer, a gift, etc.). 13 insist on (did not press the point). 14 manufacture (a gramophone record, car part, etc.) By using pressure to shape and extract from a sheet of material. —n. 1 act of pressing (give it a press). 2 device for compressing, flattening, shaping, extracting juice, etc. 3 = *printing-press. 4 (prec. By the) a art or practice of printing. B newspapers etc. Generally or collectively. 5 notice or publicity in newspapers etc. (got a good press). 6 (press) printing or publishing company. 7 a crowding. B crowd (of people etc.). 8 the pressure of affairs. 9 esp. Ir. & scot. Large usu. Shelved cupboard.  be pressed for have barely enough (time etc.). Go (or send) to press go or send to be printed. [latin premo press-]