pressure

The word “pressure” means the continuous force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it. In plain terms, the force pushing on something, or the stress of being pushed to act or perform.

“Pressure” is pronounced PREH-shuh (/ˈpɹɛʃɚ/ in IPA).

Here is “pressure” used in a sentence: “Check the tyre pressure before a long drive.”

Depending on how it is used, “pressure” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “pressure” comes from Latin. From Latin pressura, "a pressing, pressure," from premere, "to press.".

“Pressure” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Pressure” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the continuous force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it.

Force is a push or pull on an object; pressure is how concentrated that force is over an area. The same force spread over a large area gives low pressure, but focused onto a small area it gives high pressure. In physics, pressure equals force divided by area.

Pressure is measured as force per unit area, in units such as pascals (newtons per square meter), bars, or pounds per square inch (psi). A barometer measures atmospheric pressure, while manometers and pressure gauges measure it in gases and liquids.

Common physical types include atmospheric pressure (the weight of air above us), hydrostatic pressure (exerted by a fluid at rest), and gauge pressure (measured relative to the atmosphere). In everyday speech, pressure can also mean psychological stress or a strong demand to act.

A book resting on a table presses down on its surface, and the atmosphere pushes on everything around us. A drawing pin works by concentrating a small force onto a tiny point, creating very high pressure that pierces the surface. Water pressing on a dam is another example.