compress

/kəm-ˈpres/

Middle English, from Late Latin compressare to press hard, frequentative of Latin comprimere to compress, from com- + premere to press

verb

  1. to press or squeeze together

  2. to reduce in size, quantity, or volume as if by squeezing

  3. to undergo compression

contract shrink condense compress constrict deflate mean to decrease in bulk or volume. contract applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length. shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions.

noun

  1. a folded cloth or pad applied so as to press upon a body part

  2. a machine for compressing