compress

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com·press • v. / kəmˈpres/ [tr.] (often be compressed) flatten by pressure; squeeze; press. ∎  [intr.] be squeezed or pressed together or into a smaller space: the land is sinking as the soil compresses. ∎  squeeze or press (two things) together: Violet compressed her lips together grimly. ∎  express in a shorter form; abridge. ∎  Comput. alter the form of (data) to reduce the amount of storage necessary. ∎  [as adj.] (compressed) chiefly Biol. having a narrow shape as if flattened, esp. sideways: most sea snakes have a compressed tail.• n. / ˈkämˌpres/ a pad of absorbent material pressed onto part of the body to relieve inflammation or stop bleeding: a cold compress.DERIVATIVES: com·press·i·bil·i·ty / kəmˌpresəˈbilitē/ n.com·press·i·ble adj.com·pres·sive / -ˈpresiv/ adj.

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