pre ss of|fic|er (press officers ) N‑COUNT A press officer is a person who is employed by an organization to give information about that organization to the press. □ …the Press Officer of the Bavarian Government.
pre ss re|lease (press releases ) N‑COUNT A press release is a written statement about a matter of public interest which is given to the press by an organization concerned with the matter.
pre ss room (press rooms ) also pressroom N‑COUNT A press room is a room for journalists to use at a special event.
pre ss se c|re|tary (press secretaries ) N‑COUNT A government's or political leader's press secretary is someone who is employed by them to give information to the press. □ …the Prime Minister's official press secretary.
pre ss stud (press studs ) N‑COUNT A press stud is a small metal object used to fasten clothes and is made up of two parts which can be pressed together. [BRIT ] in AM, use snap fastener , snap
pre ss-up (press-ups ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Press-ups are exercises to strengthen your arms and chest muscles. They are done by lying with your face towards the floor and pushing with your hands to raise your body until your arms are straight. [BRIT ] □ He made me do 30 press-ups. in AM, use push-ups
pres|sure ◆◆◆ /pre ʃə r / (pressures , pressuring , pressured )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Pressure is force that you produce when you press hard on something. □ She kicked at the door with her foot, and the pressure was enough to open it. □ The best way to treat such bleeding is to apply firm pressure.
2 N‑UNCOUNT The pressure in a place or container is the force produced by the quantity of gas or liquid in that place or container. □ The window in the cockpit had blown in and the pressure dropped dramatically.
3 N‑UNCOUNT If there is pressure on a person, someone is trying to persuade or force them to do something. □ [+ on ] He may have put pressure on her to agree. □ Its government is under pressure from the European Commission.
4 N‑UNCOUNT If you are experiencing pressure , you feel that you must do a lot of tasks or make a lot of decisions in very little time, or that people expect a lot from you. □ Can you work under pressure? □ [+ of ] The pressures of modern life are great.
5 VERB If you pressure someone to do something, you try forcefully to persuade them to do it. □ [V n to-inf] He will never pressure you to get married. □ [be V -ed + into ] The Government should not be pressured into making hasty decisions. □ [V n] Don't pressure me. □ [V n + for ] His boss did not pressure him for results. ● pres|sured ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] □ You're likely to feel anxious and pressured.
6 → see also blood pressure
pre s|sure cook|er (pressure cookers ) N‑COUNT A pressure cooker is a large metal container with a lid that fits tightly, in which you can cook food quickly using steam at high pressure.
pre s|sure group (pressure groups ) N‑COUNT A pressure group is an organized group of people who are trying to persuade a government or other authority to do something, for example to change a law. □ …the environmental pressure group Greenpeace.
pres|sur|ize /pre ʃəra I z/ (pressurizes , pressurizing , pressurized ) in BRIT, also use pressurise 1 VERB If you are pressurized into doing something, you are forcefully persuaded to do it. □ [be V -ed + into ] Do not be pressurized into making your decision immediately. □ [V n] He thought she was trying to pressurize him. [Also V n to-inf]
2 → see also pressurized
pres|sur|ized /pre ʃəra I zd/ in BRIT, also use pressurised ADJ [usu ADJ n] In a pressurized container or area, the pressure inside is different from the pressure outside. □ Certain types of foods are also dispensed in pressurized canisters.
pres|sy /pre zi/ (pressies ) also pressie N‑COUNT A pressy is something that you give to someone, for example at Christmas, or when you visit them. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …Christmas pressies.
pres|tige /prestiː ʒ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT If a person, a country, or an organization has prestige , they are admired and respected because of the position they hold or the things they have achieved. □ It was his responsibility for foreign affairs that gained him international prestige.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Prestige is used to describe products, places, or activities which people admire because they are associated with being rich or having a high social position. □ …such prestige cars as Cadillac, Mercedes, Porsche and Jaguar.
pres|tig|ious /prest I dʒəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A prestigious institution, job, or activity is respected and admired by people. □ It's one of the best equipped and most prestigious schools in the country.
pre|sum|ably ◆◇◇ /pr I zjuː məbli, [AM ] -zuː m-/ ADV [ADV before v] If you say that something is presumably the case, you mean that you think it is very likely to be the case, although you are not certain. [VAGUENESS ] □ He had gone to the reception desk, presumably to check out.
pre|sume /pr I zjuː m, [AM ] -zuː m/ (presumes , presuming , presumed )
1 VERB If you presume that something is the case, you think that it is the case, although you are not certain. □ [V that] I presume you're here on business. □ [V that] Dido's told you the whole sad story, I presume? □ [V so ] 'Had he been home all week?'—'I presume so.' □ [be V -ed to-inf] …areas that have been presumed to be safe. □ [be V -ed adj] The missing person is presumed dead. [Also it be V -ed that]