verb
compress
kuhm-PREHS
verb
1
To squeeze or press something into a smaller space.
"The vacuum bag compresses the clothes to save space."
2
(computing) To reduce the size of a digital file by encoding it more efficiently.
"You can compress the video before emailing it."
noun
1
A folded pad of cloth, sometimes cold or warmed, pressed against part of the body to relieve pain or swelling.
"She applied a cold compress to her swollen ankle."
How to Use Compress
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo squeeze into less space, or a cloth pad pressed on an injury.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
compress a file
cold compress
compress air
Word Forms
compressed past tense, compresses plural, compresses singular
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The vacuum bag _____ the clothes to save space.
Etymology
From Latin compressus, past participle of comprimere, "to press together," from com- + premere ("to press").