Definition & Meaning of "compress"in English

to compress

VERB

to reduce the volume or size of something by applying pressure, squeezing, or condensing it

compact

condense

Transitive: to compress sth

Examples

The athlete wore compression socks to help compress the muscles and improve circulation.

to press two things together or be pressed together to become smaller

Transitive: to compress two things

Examples

She compressed her lips together to suppress a smile.

to make information, writing, or content shorter by reducing it, without losing the main points

abridge

abstract

boil down

condense

digest

Transitive: to compress information or content

Examples

The professor compressed the entire semester ’s material into a one-hour review session.

Compress

NOUN

a soft pad applied with pressure for different healing purposes

What is a "compress"?

A compress is a soft pad or cloth that is wet with liquid, often water or medicine, and applied to a part of the body to relieve pain, reduce swelling, or treat injuries. It can be heated or cooled depending on the specific medical need. Compresses are commonly used in first aid and medical treatments to provide comfort and help the healing process by applying gentle pressure and encouraging circulation to the affected area.

Examples

A cold compress helped soothe the swelling on my bruised knee.

Lexical Tree