pressure
/'preʃə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- Physical Force: The continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it.
- Mental or Social Stress: An oppressive condition of mental, social, or economic distress; a sense of urgency or demand.
- Scientific Measurement: The force applied to a unit area of a surface, measured in units like pascals.
- Compelling Influence: A force that compels someone to do something.
Verb:
- To Coerce or Urge: To attempt to persuade or force someone to do something by applying mental or social stress.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The pressure of the water against the dam was immense. (Physical force)
- She felt a lot of pressure to succeed from her family. (Mental stress)
- The gas is stored at high pressure. (Scientific measurement)
- Public pressure forced the company to change its policy. (Compelling influence)
Verb:
- The manager pressured the team to finish the project early.
- He felt pressured into agreeing.
Advanced Usage
- "Under pressure": Experiencing stress or being forced to act quickly.
- She performs well under pressure.
- "Bring pressure to bear on": To use influence to try to make someone do something.
- The group brought pressure to bear on the local council.
- "Pressure point": A sensitive or critical spot, either physically or in a situation.
- The issue became a political pressure point.
Variants and Related Words
- Pressurize (Verb): To maintain normal atmospheric pressure in an aircraft cabin; or, to coerce (less common than 'pressure' as a verb).
- The cabin is pressurized for passenger comfort.
- Pressurization (Noun): The process of maintaining normal atmospheric pressure.
- Pressure Cooker (Noun - Compound): A sealed pot for cooking quickly under steam pressure; metaphorically, a tense situation.
- The final exam week was a real pressure cooker.
Synonyms
- Noun: Force, stress, strain, urgency, coercion, compulsion.
- Verb: Coerce, compel, push, urge, force.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
- Pressure into (doing something): To coerce someone into a specific action.
- They pressured him into resigning.
- Pressure for: To demand or urge action on something.
- Activists are pressuring the government for reform.
Related Idioms
- Put the pressure on: To increase the demands or stress on someone.
- With the deadline approaching, the boss is really putting the pressure on.
- Yield to pressure: To give in or agree because of coercion.
- The administration yielded to pressure from investors.
Noun
- the pressure exerted by the atmosphere
- an oppressive condition of physical or mental or social or economic distress
- the somatic sensation that results from applying force to an area of skin
- the sensitivity of his skin to pressure and temperature was normal
- the state of demanding notice or attention
- the insistence of their hunger
- the press of business matters
- the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
- he gave the button a press
- he used pressure to stop the bleeding
- at the pressing of a button
- a force that compels
- the public brought pressure to bear on the government
- the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
- the compressed gas exerts an increased pressure
Verb
- exert pressure on someone through threats
- to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means :"She forced him to take a job in the city"
- He squeezed her for information