pressure

noun

• 1continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it:the gate was buckling under the pressure of the crowd outside
• [count noun] the force per unit area exerted by a fluid against a surface with which it is in contact:gas can be fed to the turbines at a pressure of around 250 psi

• 2the use of persuasion or intimidation to make someone do something:backbenchers put pressure on the government to provide safeguards [count noun]:the many pressures on girls to worry about their looks
• the influence or effect of someone or something:oil prices came under some downwards pressure
• a sense of stressful urgency caused by having too many demands on one’s time or resources:he resigned due to pressure of work [count noun]:the pressures of city life

verb

• attempt to persuade or coerce (someone) into doing something:it might be possible to pressure him into resigning [with object and infinitive]:she pressured her son to accept a job offer from the bank