pres·sure (pr?sh??r)n.1. a. The act of pressing.b. The condition of being pressed.2. The application of continuous force by one body on another that it is touching; compression.3. Abbr. P Physics Force applied uniformly over a surface, measured as force per unit area.4. Meteorology Atmospheric pressure.5. a. A compelling or constraining influence, such as persuasion or negative attitudes, on the mind or will: felt pressure to conform; peer-group pressure.b. An influence acting as a source of distress or hardship: economic pressures forcing people to work two jobs.c. Sports Sustained, effective play that puts an opponent at a disadvantage: Defensive pressure forced the quarterback to throw interceptions.d. The condition of being subjected to physical, mental, social, or economic distress: doesn’t work well under pressure.6. A physical sensation produced by compression of a part of the body.7. Archaic A mark made by application of force or weight; an impression.tr.v. pres·sured, pres·sur·ing, pres·sures 1. To force or try to force, as by influence or persuasion: The salesman pressured us to buy the car right away.2. To pressurize.3. To pressure-cook.[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin press?ra, from pressus, past participle of premere, to press; see per- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.pressure (?pr???) n1. the state of pressing or being pressed2. the exertion of force by one body on the surface of another3. a moral force that compels: to bring pressure to bear. 4. an urgent claim or demand or series of urgent claims or demands: to work under pressure. 5. a burdensome condition that is hard to bear: the pressure of grief. 6. (General Physics) the normal force applied to a unit area of a surface, usually measured in pascals (newtons per square metre), millibars, torr, or atmospheres. Symbol: p or P 7. (General Physics) short for atmospheric pressure, blood pressurevb8. (tr) to constrain or compel, as by the application of moral force9. another word for pressurize[C14: from Late Latin press?ra a pressing, from Latin premere to press] ?pressureless adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014pres?sure (?pr?? ?r) n., v. -sured, -sur?ing. n. 1. the exertion of force upon a surface by an object, fluid, etc., in contact with it. 2. Physics. force per unit area. Symbol: P 3. the state of being pressed or compressed. 4. harassment; oppression; stress: the pressures of daily life. 5. a constraining or compelling force or influence: social pressures. 6. urgency, as of affairs or business: He works well under pressure. 7. atmospheric pressure. 8. blood pressure. v.t. 9. to force toward a particular end by exerting a constraining or compelling influence; coerce: They pressured him into accepting. 10. to pressurize. [1350?1400; Middle English (n.)