PRESSURE

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pressure mean? 

• PRESSURE (noun)
  The noun PRESSURE has 7 senses:

1. the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)

2. a force that compels

3. the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure

4. the state of demanding notice or attention

5. the somatic sensation that results from applying force to an area of skin

6. an oppressive condition of physical or mental or social or economic distress

7. the pressure exerted by the atmosphere

  Familiarity information: PRESSURE used as a noun is common.

• PRESSURE (verb)
  The verb PRESSURE has 2 senses:

1. to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means

2. exert pressure on someone through threats

  Familiarity information: PRESSURE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRESSURE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

force per unit area; pressure; pressure level

Context example:

the compressed gas exerts an increased pressure

Hypernyms ("pressure" is a kind of...):

physical phenomenon (a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pressure"):

osmotic pressure ((physical chemistry) the pressure exerted by a solution necessary to prevent osmosis into that solution when it is separated from the pure solvent by a semipermeable membrane)

vapor pressure; vapour pressure (the pressure exerted by a vapor; often understood to mean saturated vapor pressure (the vapor pressure of a vapor in contact with its liquid form))

suction (a force over an area produced by a pressure difference)

instantaneous sound pressure; sound pressure (the difference between the instantaneous pressure at a point in a sound field and the average pressure at that point)

corpuscular-radiation pressure; radiation pressure (the minute pressure exerted on a surface normal to the direction of propagation of a wave)

oil pressure (pressure that keeps oil on the moving parts of an internal-combustion engine)

intraocular pressure; IOP (pressure exerted by the fluids inside the eyeball; regulated by resistance to the outward flow of aqueous humor)

hydrostatic head (the pressure at a given point in a liquid measured in terms of the vertical height of a column of the liquid needed to produce the same pressure)

head (the pressure exerted by a fluid)

gas pressure (the pressure exerted by a gas)

blood pressure (the pressure of the circulating blood against the walls of the blood vessels; results from the systole of the left ventricle of the heart; sometimes measured for a quick evaluation of a person's health)

Derivation:

pressurize (maintain a certain pressure)

pressurize (increase the pressure on a gas or liquid)

pressurize (increase the pressure in or of)

pressurise (increase the pressure on a gas or liquid)

pressurise (maintain a certain pressure)

pressurise (increase the pressure in or of)

press (exert pressure or force to or upon)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A force that compels

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the public brought pressure to bear on the government

Hypernyms ("pressure" is a kind of...):

force (a powerful effect or influence)

Derivation:

press (force or impel in an indicated direction)

pressure (to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means)

pressure (exert pressure on someone through threats)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of pressing; the exertion of pressure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

press; pressing; pressure

Context example:

at the pressing of a button

Hypernyms ("pressure" is a kind of...):

push; pushing (the act of applying force in order to move something away)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pressure"):

compressing; compression (applying pressure)

impression (the act of pressing one thing on or into the surface of another)

Derivation:

press (exert pressure or force to or upon)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The state of demanding notice or attention

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

imperativeness; insistence; insistency; press; pressure

Context example:

the press of business matters

Hypernyms ("pressure" is a kind of...):

urgency (the state of being urgent; an earnest and insistent necessity)

Derivation:

press (be urgent)

pressure (to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means)

pressure (exert pressure on someone through threats)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The somatic sensation that results from applying force to an area of skin

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

pressure; pressure sensation

Context example:

the sensitivity of his skin to pressure and temperature was normal

Hypernyms ("pressure" is a kind of...):

somaesthesia; somatesthesia; somatic sensation; somesthesia (the perception of tactual or proprioceptive or gut sensations)

Sense 6

Meaning:

An oppressive condition of physical or mental or social or economic distress

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("pressure" is a kind of...):

distress (a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need))

Sense 7

Meaning:

The pressure exerted by the atmosphere

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

air pressure; atmospheric pressure; pressure

Hypernyms ("pressure" is a kind of...):

gas pressure (the pressure exerted by a gas)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pressure"):

barometric pressure (atmospheric pressure as indicated by a barometer)

compartment pressure (the air pressure maintained in an air-tight compartment (as in an aircraft))

overpressure (a transient air pressure greater than the surrounding atmospheric pressure)

sea-level pressure (the atmospheric pressure reduced by a formula to the pressure at sea level)

• PRESSURE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

To cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

coerce; force; hale; pressure; squeeze

Context example:

He squeezed her for information

Hypernyms (to "pressure" is one way to...):

compel; obligate; oblige (force somebody to do something)

Cause:

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pressure"):

turn up the heat; turn up the pressure (apply great or increased pressure)

drive (to compel or force or urge relentlessly or exert coercive pressure on, or motivate strongly)

bludgeon (overcome or coerce as if by using a heavy club)

steamroll; steamroller (bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure)

squeeze for (squeeze someone for money, information, etc.)

dragoon; railroad; sandbag (compel by coercion, threats, or crude means)

terrorise; terrorize (coerce by violence or with threats)

bring oneself (cause to undertake a certain action, usually used in the negative)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something

Sentence example:

They pressure him to write the letter

Derivation:

pressure (a force that compels)

pressure (the state of demanding notice or attention)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Exert pressure on someone through threats

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

blackjack; blackmail; pressure

Hypernyms (to "pressure" is one way to...):

act upon; influence; work (have and exert influence or effect)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

pressure (a force that compels)

pressure (the state of demanding notice or attention)

 Context examples 

“This effect was even stronger among people with high blood pressure to begin with.”

(Can Chocolate Really Be Good for You?, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

At last, however, I found one door at the top of the stairway which, though it seemed to be locked, gave a little under pressure.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

There had been no quick, vigorous lip-pressure such as should accompany any kiss.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Symptoms include high fever, sweating, unstable blood pressure, confusion, and stiffness.

(Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, NCI Dictionary)

Emma returned her friend's pressure with interest; and was pleased enough to exclaim, You are not vain, Mr. Knightley.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

At a mid-point, a sharp, 90-degree angle of pressure is exerted from the past eclipses (from July) and the future ones (due in December-January).

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He had just closed his hand with a steady pressure.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

But soon she saw one of his ears sticking up through the hole, for the strong pressure of the air was keeping him up so that he could not fall.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Symptoms include: • Weight loss • Muscle weakness • Fatigue that gets worse over time • Low blood pressure • Patchy or dark skin

(Addison Disease, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

From the pressure of Holmes’s shoulder against mine, I knew that he was sharing my observations.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)