preserve 1092
preserved. 1 (humor) Lord preserve us from these so-called experts! 2 to cause (a condition) to last; keep unchanged: He's managed to preserve his independence. | It's the duty of the police to preserve public order. 3 [in] to treat (food) in such a way that it can be kept a long time: preserved fruit | figs preserved in brandy -> see also WELL-PRESERVED
-servable adj -server n
preserve² n 1 [C usually pl.;U] (often in comb.) becoming old-fash a substance made from fruit boiled in sugar, used especially for spreading on bread; JAM: strawberry preserve 2 [C] a stretch of land or water kept for private hunting or fishing 3 [C] something that belongs to or is for the use of only a certain person or limited number of people: She considers the arranging of flowers in the church to be her own personal preserve. | In the past, fire-fighting/childcare has always been a male/female preserve.
pre-set /pri:'set/ v preset, present participle presetting [T] to set in advance: You can preset the video to record programmes while you are out.
pre-shrunk /pri:'ʃrʌŋk/ adj (of cloth) made to SHRINK before being sold in order to prevent shrinking after use
pre-side /pri:'zaid/ v 1 [at, over] tml to be in charge (of); lead: Who is presiding at this meeting? | the presiding officer | As prime minister, she presided over the biggest ever rise in unemployment.
pres-i-den-cy /'prezɪdənsi/ n 1 [(0)] the office of president: Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the US. 2 the period during which a person is president
pres-i-dent /'prezɪdənt/ n [(0)] 1 (often cap.) the leader, and often also ruler or chief governing official, of many modern states that do not have a king or queen: the President of France | President Clinton 2 (sometimes cap.) the head of a club or society, some universities or colleges, some government departments etc: the President of the Royal Academy | the president of the local camera club 3 especially AmE (sometimes cap.) the head of a business company, bank etc: the president of General Motors -> -ial /ˌprez'denʃəl/ adj: presidential government | a presidential election (AmE) | Next year will be a presidential year. (=there will be an election to choose a president)
president pro tem-po-re /ˌprezdənt prəʊ 'tempəreɪ/ also president pro 'tem infml - n a member of the US Senate who is elected by the other members of the Senate to control the course of its business when the US Vice-President, who is usually responsible, is away
'Presidents' Day a US public holiday in February celebrating the birthdays of Presidents George WASHINGTON and Abraham LINCOLN -> see Feature on page A17
pre-sid-i-um, praes- /prɪ'sɪdiəm, -'zi:-/ n pl. ~s or -ia /diə/ (especially in Communist countries) a committee chosen to represent and act for a larger body, especially a political body: the presidium of the Supreme Soviet
Pres-ley, El-vis /'prezli, 'elvɪs/ (1935-77) a US singer and GUITAR player, who first became popular as a ROCK 'N' ROLL singer in the mid-1950s, and became one of the most successful and popular singers ever. As a young man, he was known for being sexually attractive and was called 'Elvis the Pelvis' because of the way he moved the lower part of his body when he performed. Later, his performances became less active and exciting, and he sang mostly slow love songs. His many successful records had a great influence on popular music, and they include Heartbreak Hotel, Blue Suede Shoes, and Are you Lonesome Tonight? He also appeared in many films, such as Jailhouse Rock (1957) and G.I. Blues (1960). He is often called 'The King', and some people say that they do not believe that he is dead. Millions of people go to visit his home in Memphis, Tennessee, which is called GRACELAND. -> see also ELVIS SIGHTING; see colour photo on page A31
press¹ /pres/ v 1 [T] to push firmly and steadily: Press this button to start the engine. | I pressed a coin into the little girl's hand. | The little boy pressed his nose against the shop window. 2 [T] to put weight onto (something) in order to crush, flatten, shape, pack tightly, or get liquid out: To make wine, first you must press the grapes. | pressed flowers | Before cooking, the pastry must be pressed flat and thin. 3 [T] to give (a garment) a smooth surface and a sharp fold by using a hot iron; IRON 4 [T] to take hold of (a part of the body) firmly as a sign of friendship, love, pity etc: He pressed my hand warmly when we met. 5 [+adv/prep] to push one's way roughly, especially in a mass: Crowds pressed round her, trying to get her autograph. 6 [T+obj+to-v] to urge strongly: She pressed her guests to stay a little longer. -> see also PRESS FOR 7 [T] to continue to try to gain acceptance of: In view of their limited financial resources, we shall not press our claim for compensation. (=we shall stop making the claim) | I suggested we make a joint appeal, but he didn't seem very keen, so I didn't press the point. 8 [I] infml to make quick action or attention necessary: Work presses/Time presses; (=there is not much time) so I can't stop to talk. -> see also PRESS ON, PRESSING 9 [T] tech to make a copy of (a GRAMOPHONE record etc) -> see also PRESSING 10 press home a) to get the greatest possible effect from (an advantage) b) to continue (an attack) forcefully and successfully 11 press the flesh infml humor to shake hands. This phrase is often used in connection with political CANDIDATES who meet many people and try to influence them in the weeks before an election: I've had a busy day walking round the ward, kissing babies, pressing the flesh, and all that.
press (sbdy.) for sthg. phr v [T] to demand urgently (from): I don't know whether to accept this new job, and the firm is pressing (me) for a decision.
press on phr v 1 [(with)] also press ahead - to continue with determination or without delay: Let's press on with our work. | Shall we stop here or press on to the next town? 2 [T[press sthg. on sbdy.]] to force (someone) to accept (something): He tried to press another drink on me.
press² n: 1 [(the)U+sing./pl. v] (writers and reporters working for) newspapers and magazines, and usually also the news-gathering services of radio and television: The minister invited the press to a meeting to explain his actions. | the freedom of the press (=their freedom to print news and fair opinion without being stopped by the government) | a press photographer -> see also GUTTER PRESS 2 [S] treatment of the stated kind given by newspapers etc when reporting about a person or event: The play had a good press (=the newspapers said it was good) but very few people went to see it. 3 [C] a PRINTING PRESS: Stop the presses! A piece of late news has come in. | When does the paper go to press? (=start being printed) | The new book is in (the) press. (=being printed) -> see also STOP PRESS 4 [C] (usually cap.) a business for printing (and sometimes also for selling) books, magazines etc: the Clarendon Press 5 [S] an act of pushing steadily against something small: Give the button another press. 6 [C] infml an act of making a garment smooth with a hot iron: Could you give my trousers a quick press? 7 [C] (often in comb.) an apparatus used for putting weight onto something: She keeps her tennis racket in a press to stop it from getting out of shape. | a wine/garlic press -> see also TROUSER PRESS
press³ v press someone/something into service to use someone or something in a time of urgent need, even though they may not be completely suitable
'press agency n the office or business of a press agent
'press agent n a person whose job is to keep an actor, musician, sportsman etc, in favourable public notice by supplying photographs, interesting facts etc, to newspapers.
'Press Association, the, abbrev. PA the main UK NEWS AGENCY (=an organization that collects news and supplies it to newspapers, radio, and television). As well as news, the Press Association also supplies sports and business reports and information about the weather.
'press baron n especially BrE infml sometimes derog a person who owns and controls one or more important national newspapers. In Britain, Robert Maxwell was, and Rupert Murdoch is, sometimes described as a press baron. -> compare DRUG BARON
'press box n an (enclosed) space at some outdoor events, especially sports events, that is kept for the use of newspaper reporters
Press-bur-ger, E-me-ric /'presbɜ:gə || -ɜ:r-, 'emərɪk/ (1902-88) a Hungarian-born film DIRECTOR who made films together with Michael Powell, including A Matter of Life and Death (1946)