press
UK[pres]US[pres]
v
to push something firmly against a surface or to apply steady force to something
v
to make clothes smooth by applying heat with an iron
n
a machine or device used for applying pressure, such as for printing, flattening, or squeezing
n
the people and organizations involved in producing newspapers, magazines, and news reports collectively
Etymology
The word "press" entered English in the late 13th century from Old French 'presser', which itself evolved from the Latin verb 'premere' (past participle 'pressus'). The Latin root is traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root per- (to strike), which also gave rise to words like "print." The initial concrete meaning of applying physical force broadened over centuries. By the mid-14th century, it referred to a crowd or throng (a "press" of people), and by the 1570s, it was applied to the printing machine that applies pressure to paper. This latter sense, in turn, gave rise to the collective term for the publishing and news industry by the early 18th century, illustrating a clear path from physical action to institutional abstraction.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It is derived from the Latin verb 'premere', meaning "to press, push, hold fast, cover, crowd, compress." The English word retains the core sense of applying force or pressure.
Examples
Press the button to start the machine.
She had to press her suit before the important meeting.
The freedom of the press is a fundamental principle in a democracy.