press

press1 [ pres ] noun ***

▸ 1 newspapers etc.

▸ 2 machine for printing

▸ 3 publishing business

▸ 4 piece of equipment

▸ 5 single push on something

▸ 6 making clothes smooth

▸ 7 many people pushing

1. ) the press newspapers and news magazines:

the national/local/American/sports press

the popular/tabloid press

in the press: She has been criticized in the press for not speaking out on this issue.

a ) reporters and photographers who work for newspapers or news magazines:

She finally emerged from her home to face the press.

It's a meeting for shareholders only, and the press is excluded.

b ) only before noun relating to the press:

a crowd of press photographers

The story has received extensive press coverage (=reports in newspapers).

c ) bad/good press criticism/praise that appears in newspapers and news magazines:

The company has been getting a fairly bad press for its treatment of workers.

2. ) count a machine used for printing newspapers, books, or magazines

a ) hot off the press/presses if a newspaper, book, magazine, or piece of news is hot off the press, it has just been printed

b ) go to press if a newspaper, book, or magazine goes to press, it starts to be printed:

The news came in only minutes before the paper was due to go to press.

=> PRINTING PRESS

3. ) count a business that publishes books. This word is sometimes used in company names:

published by Harvard University Press

4. ) count a piece of equipment used for making something flat or smooth:

a steam press

a ) a piece of equipment used for crushing something or squeezing liquid out of it:

a garlic press

5. ) count usually singular a single push on something such as a button or switch:

at the press of a button (=simply by pressing a button): Internet shopping brings the store to your home at the simple press of a button.

6. ) singular an act of making clothes smooth with an iron:

give something a press: I'll just give my shirt a quick press and then I'm ready.

7. ) singular a large number of people pushing in different directions:

He pushed his way through the press of people.

=> FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

press

press 2 [ pres ] verb ***

▸ 1 push

▸ 2 move forward

▸ 3 try to make someone do something

▸ 4 make clothes smooth

▸ 5 squeeze fruit/vegetables

▸ 6 make CDs/records

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive or transitive to push one thing against another:

press against: Her face was pressing against his chest.

press something against something: Children were pressing their faces against the window.

press yourself against something: They had to press themselves against the wall to let the horse pass.

press something to something: Even with the phone pressed to his ear, he couldn't hear what she was saying.

press something into something: The minister pressed a bible into his hand.

press down on something: He felt the enormous weight of the man pressing down on his back.

a ) transitive to push something such as a button or switch in order to make a piece of equipment start working:

To read your e-mail, press the return key.

Could you press the button for the third floor, please?

2. ) intransitive to move as a group by pushing together in a particular direction:

press forward: A wave of protesters pressed forward toward the building.

press around: The crowd of fans began to press more closely around them.

3. ) transitive to try in a determined way to make someone do something or tell you something:

press someone about/on something: She continued to press him on the reasons for his decision.

press someone into (doing) something: They had all been pressed into helping with the preparations for the party.

press someone to do something: Managers are being pressed to ensure safety standards are met.

a ) to try to make someone accept something such as an opinion or claim:

press a point: She gave no answer, so I didn't press the point.

press a claim: The young Duke of Normandy continued to press his claim to the English throne.

press a case: He was in Washington today to press the case for reforming tax laws.

4. ) transitive to make clothes smooth using a hot iron

5. ) transitive to squeeze fruit or vegetables in order to get juice or oil out of them

6. ) transitive to make CDs or records in a factory

press someone's arm/hand

to squeeze someone's arm or hand gently as a way of expressing friendship, sympathy, or love

press charges (against someone)

to officially accuse someone of committing a crime

press the flesh INFORMAL

if a politician or other famous person presses the flesh, they meet and shake hands with a lot of people because they want to appear friendly and popular

press something home/press home something

1. ) to repeat or explain something carefully so that you are certain someone understands it completely:

The mayor's office is expected to press home its opposition to the budget proposals.

2. ) press home your advantage to make full use of an advantage that you have over someone

press someone/something into service

1. ) to give someone a particular job or responsibility that they do not normally have:

Local people are being pressed into service to help search for the girl.

2. ) to use an object for a purpose that it was not intended for

,press a`head or ,press `on phrasal verb intransitive

to continue doing something in a determined way, despite difficulties, opposition, or interruptions:

They pressed ahead regardless of objections.

press ahead with something: We shall press ahead with our plans for reform.

`press for phrasal verb transitive

1. ) press someone for something to try in a determined way to get something from someone:

The more she pressed him for an explanation, the more he refused to speak.

2. ) press for something to try in a determined way to achieve something:

The committee also agreed to press for changes in the current financing system.

,press `on phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive same as PRESS AHEAD:

Mr. Scott ignored the comment and pressed on.

2. ) transitive press something on someone to try in a determined way to give someone something, especially something that they do not really want:

It's not fair to keep pressing chocolates on her when she's trying to diet.