GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Compress (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compressed (?); p. pr & vb. n. Compressing.] [L. compressus, p. p. of comprimere to compress: com- + premere to press. See Press.]
   1. To press or squeeze together; to force into a narrower compass; to reduce the volume of by pressure; to compact; to condense; as, “to compress air or water”.
   
   [1913 Webster]
   
   Events of centuries . . . compressed within the compass of a single life. D. Webster.
   
   [1913 Webster]
   
   The same strength of expression, though more compressed, runs through his historical harangues. Melmoth.
   
   [1913 Webster]
   
   
   2. To embrace sexually. [Obs.] Pope.
   
   [1913 Webster]
   
   
   3. (Computers) to reduce the space required for storage (of binary data) by an algorithm which converts the data to a smaller number of bits while preserving the information content.  The compressed data is usually decompressed to recover the initial data format before subsequent use.
   
   [PJC]
   
   Syn. -- To crowd; squeeze; condense; reduce; abridge.
   
   [1913 Webster]
   
   
   
   
         
       

2.       
   Compress (?), n. [F. compresse.] (Surg.) A folded piece of cloth, pledget of lint, etc., used to cover the dressing of wounds, and so placed as, by the aid of a bandage, to make due pressure on any part.
   
   [1913 Webster]