Compress Definition

kəm-prĕs

compressed, compresses, compressing

verb

compressed, compresses, compressing

To press together.

Compressed her lips.

American Heritage

To press together; make more compact by or as by pressure.

Webster's New World

To encode (digital data) so that it can be stored or transmitted in significantly fewer bits.

Webster's New World

To press together.

American Heritage Medicine

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

Our new model compresses easily, ideal for storage and travel.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

compresses

A pad of folded cloth, sometimes medicated or moistened, for applying pressure, heat, cold, etc. to some part of the body.

Webster's New World

A machine for compressing cotton bales.

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Compress

Singular:

compress

Plural:

Middle English compressen from Old French compresser from Late Latin compressāre frequentative of Latin comprimere com- com- premere to press per-⁴ in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Middle French compresse, from compresser 'to compress', from Late Latin compressare 'to press hard/together', from compressus, the past participle of comprimere 'to compress', itself from com- 'together' + premere 'to press'

From Wiktionary
From Old French compresser, from Late Latin compressare 'to press hard/together', from compressus, the past participle of comprimere 'to compress', itself from com- 'together' + premere 'to press'

From Wiktionary