1093 presuppose
Press Com'plaints Com,mission, the a British organization which tries to make sure that the British PRESS (=newspapers and magazines) give professional, high quality news reports, and which deals with complaints about the press
'press ,conference also news conference n a meeting during which an important person gives a statement to news reporters or answers questions
'press corps n pl. press corps a group of news reporters from different newspapers who gather for a NEWS CONFERENCE where something important is happening, or where an important statement will be made
'press ,cutting n [usually pl.] a CUTTING
pressed /prest/ adj 1 [F+for] not having enough: I'm pressed for time this morning so it will have to wait until this afternoon. 2 (of food) given a firm shape by being packed into a container so as to be easily cut for eating cold: pressed duck
'press ,gallery n (especially in the British parliament) a space with seats above or at the back of the main level of a hall, kept for the use of news reporters
press·gang¹ /'presgæŋ/ n (in former times, especially in the 18th century) a group of sailors employed to take men away by force and make them join the navy
pressgang² v [T(into)] infml (especially of a group) to force (someone) to do something unwillingly: I was pressganged into playing in the charity cricket match.
press·ing¹ /'presɪŋ/ adj 1 that must have attention, action etc, now; urgent: Pressing business matters prevented him from taking a holiday. 2 asking for something strongly, in a way that is hard to refuse; INSISTENT: a pressing invitation —ly adv
pressing² n 1 an act of pressing: olive oil from the first cold pressing 2 any of the copies of a GRAMOPHONE record made at any one time
press·man /'presmæn/ n pl. -men /men/ BrE infml a newspaper reporter
press ,office n an office of an organization, especially a government department, from which information about the organization's activities is given to the press, often in the form of a PRESS RELEASE —press officer n
press re,lease n a prepared statement given out to news services and newspapers
press ,secretary n a secretary to an important person or organization who gives news about them to newspapers
press-stud BrE also popper infml, especially BrE || snap fas-tener AmE — n a small metal fastener for a garment, in which one part is pressed into a hollow in another → see picture at FASTENER
press-up especially BrE || push-up especially AmE — n a form of exercise in which someone lies face down on the ground, keeping their back straight, and pushes their body up with their arms: She does twenty press-ups every morning.
pres·sure¹ /'preʃər/ n 1 [U] the action of putting force or weight onto something: The pressure of the water turns this wheel, and this is used to make electric power. 2 [C;U] the strength of this force: These gas containers will burst at high pressures. | Low (atmospheric) pressure often brings rain. | a pressure gauge 3 [U] forceful influence; strong persuasion: He only agreed to do it under pressure from his parents. | [+to-v] We're trying to put pressure on/bring pressure to bear on the government to change the law | He only agreed to leave the country under pressure. (=after being forcefully persuaded to do so) 4 [C;U] conditions in one's work, one's style of living etc that cause anxiety and difficulty: I'd like to help out, but I really haven't got time - pressure of work, you know. | the pressures of modern life | He works best under pressure. → see also BLOOD PRESSURE, HIGH-PRESSURE
pressure² v [T(into)] especially AmE for PRESSURIZE
pressure ,cooker n a tightly covered metal cooking pot in which food can be cooked very quickly by the pressure of hot steam
pressure group n [C+sing./pl. v] a group of people that actively tries to influence public opinion and government action → compare INTEREST GROUP
pressure point n 1 a point on the human body where a blood-carrying tube (ARTERY) runs near a bone, so that it can be closed off by pressing on it, for example to stop blood loss 2 a point used in ACUPRESSURE
pres·sur·ize also -ise BrE /'preʃəraz/ v [T] 1 [into] especially BrE || pressure especially AmE — to (try to) make (someone) do something by using strong or unfair influence: The government have pressurized the farmers into producing more milk. | [+obj+to-v] I'm being pressurized to make a statement. 2 to control the air pressure inside (something) so that it does not become much lower than the pressure on Earth: an aircraft's pressurized cabin —ization /ˌpreʃəraˈzeɪʃən|| -rə'zeɪ-/ n [U]
pres·ti·di·gi·ta·tion /ˌprestɪdɪdʒɪˈteɪʃən/ n [U] humor or fml the performing of tricks by quick clever use of the hands; conjuring (CONJURE)
pres·tige¹ /pre'sti:ʒ/ n [U] general respect or admiration felt for someone or something because they have (or are connected with) high quality, social influence, success etc: The old universities of Oxford and Cambridge still have a lot of prestige. | the prestige conferred in many cultures by having a professional job, such as that of a doctor or lawyer
prestige² adj [A] usually apprec or derog causing admiration because of being an outward sign of wealth or success: Some people say the country should spend its money on really important things, not on prestige developments like new airports. | a prestige car (=big, expensive, and important-looking)
pres·ti·gious /pre'stɪdʒəs||-'sti:-, -'strɪ-/ adj usually apprec having or bringing prestige: a very prestigious address in the best part of town
pres·to /'prestəʊ/ n, adj, adv pl. -tos (a piece of music) played very quickly → see also HEY PRESTO
pre·stressed /ˌpri:'strest/ adj (of CONCRETE) strengthened by having stretched wires put inside
Prest·wick /'prestwɪk/ a town in southwest Scotland, known for its international airport and GOLF COURSE
pre·su·ma·bly /prɪ'zju:məbɪli||-'zu:-/ adv it may reasonably be supposed that; probably: If you've already eaten, you presumably won't want dinner. | Presumably you've read this notice. (=I suppose/hope that you have)
pre·sume /prɪ'zju:m||-'zu:m/ v 1 [T] to take (something) as true or as a fact without direct proof but with some feeling of being certain; suppose: [+(that)] John didn't say when he'd return, but I presume (that) he'll be back for dinner. | 'Will he be back for dinner?' 'I presume so.' | [+obj+to-v] fml From the way they talked I presumed them to be married. 2 [T] to accept as true until proved untrue, especially in a matter of law, justice etc: We must presume innocence until we have evidence of guilt. | [+(that)] We must presume they are innocent. | [+obj+adj] The soldier was missing, presumed dead. | [+obj+to-v] Anyone not replying within 28 days is presumed to have given up his or her claim. 3 [! usually in questions and negatives] fml to behave without enough respect or politeness; dare to do something which one has no right to do: I don't wish to presume, sir, but don't you think you need a larger size? | [+to-v] Are you presuming to tell me how to drive my car? 4 [T] fml to be a reasonable sign or proof of; PRESUPPOSE: An answer, by its nature, presumes a question. 5 Dr Livingstone, I presume a phrase believed to have been used by Sir Henry Stanley when he found Dr Livingstone, an EXPLORER who had been lost in Africa. The phrase is now sometimes used humorously. → see also Dr LIVINGSTONE
presume on/upon sthg. phr v [T] fml to (try to) take unfair advantage of (someone's kindness or connection with oneself): I feel it would be presuming on our rather brief friendship to ask him to lend me that much money.
pre·sump·tion /prɪ'zʌmpʃən/ n 1 [C;U] a) an act of supposing b) law an act of supposing that is reasonable and sensible: the presumption of innocence 2 [U] fml derog disrespectful behaviour that shows too high an opinion of oneself
pre·sump·tive /prɪ'zmptɪv/ adj [A] fml, especially law based on a reasonable belief; probable: presumptive proof → see also HEIR PRESUMPTIVE —ly adv
pre·sump·tu·ous /prɪ'zʌmptʃuəs/ adj derog showing disrespect towards others as a result of having too high an opinion of oneself —ly adv
pre·sup·pose /ˌpri:sə'pəʊz/ v [T not in progressive forms]