pressure

Definitions

1. noun

   A pushing force on a surface.

   Examples

   • Apply gentle pressure to the wound.
   • The pressure of the water cracked the dam.
2. noun

   The amount of force on each unit of an area.

   Examples

   • Air pressure drops as you go higher.
   • Engineers measured the pressure inside the tank.
3. noun

   A force that pushes a person to act in a certain way.

   Examples

   • The pressure of poverty forced them to move.
   • High taxes put pressure on small businesses.
4. noun

   Stress or worry.

   Examples

   • She has felt pressure lately because her boss expects a lot.
   • The pressure of the job made him tired.
   ≈affliction≈grievance
5. noun

   A feeling that you must hurry.

   Examples

   • He felt under a lot of pressure to finish the report.
   • The deadline put extra pressure on the project.
   ≈press
6. noun

   A short way to say blood pressure.

   Examples

   • The nurse checked his pressure before the exam.
   • Her pressure has been high lately.
7. noun

   In old-fashioned use, a mark made by pressing.

   Examples

   • The seal left its pressure clearly in the wax.
   • The paper bore the pressure of the royal seal.
8. verb

   To push someone to do something.

   Examples

   • They pressured him into signing the contract.
   • She felt pressured to agree with the group.