compress

 

verb

Pronunciation: /kəmˈprɛs/
[with object]
  • flatten by pressure; squeeze or press: the skirt can be folded and compressed into a relatively small bag (as adjective compressed) compressed gas
  • [no object] be squeezed or pressed together or into a smaller space: her face compressed into a frown
  • (as adjective compressed) chiefly Biology having a narrow shape as if flattened, especially sideways: most sea snakes have a compressed tail
  • squeeze or press (two things) together: Viola compressed her lips together grimly
  • express in a shorter form; abridge: in this chapter we compress into summary form the main findings
  • reduce the dynamic range of (a sound signal).
  • Computing alter the form of (data) to reduce the amount of storage necessary.

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒmprɛs/
  • a pad of lint or other absorbent material pressed on to part of the body to relieve inflammation or stop bleeding: a cold compress

Derivatives

compressibility

Pronunciation: /-ˈbɪlɪti/
noun

compressible

Pronunciation: /kəmˈprɛsɪb(ə)l/
adjective

compressive

Pronunciation: /kəmˈprɛsɪv/
adjective

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French compresser or late Latin compressare, frequentative of Latin comprimere, from com- 'together' + premere 'to press'; or directly from compress- 'pressed together', from the verb comprimere