01 n. The act of pressing, or the condition of being pressed; compression; a squeezing; a crushing; as, a pressure of the hand.
-
1.
The act of pressing, or the condition of being pressed; compression; a squeezing; a crushing; as, a pressure of the hand.
-
2.
A contrasting force or impulse of any kind; as, the pressure of poverty; the pressure of taxes; the pressure of motives on the mind; the pressure of civilization.“Where the pressure of danger was not felt.” — Macaulay.
-
3.
Affliction; distress; grievance.“My people's pressures are grievous.” — Eikon Basilike.“In the midst of his great troubles and pressures.” — Atterbury.
-
4.
Urgency; as, the pressure of business.
-
5.
Impression; stamp; character impressed.“All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past.” — Shak.
-
6.
The action of a force against some obstacle or opposing force; a force in the nature of a thrust, distributed over a surface, often estimated with reference to the amount upon a unit's area.(Mech.)
-
7.
Electro-motive force.
Phrases & compounds
Back pressure —
pressure which resists the motion of the piston, as the pressure of exhaust steam which does not find free outlet.
Fluid pressure —
pressure like that exerted by a fluid. It is a thrust which is normal and equally intense in all directions around a point.
Pressure gauge —
a gauge for indicating fluid pressure; a manometer.