pressurize
/'preʃəraiz/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (transitive):
- To increase the pressure within a closed space or container: To artificially raise the internal pressure of a system, such as an aircraft cabin or a gas tank, above the external ambient pressure.
- To maintain a controlled, higher pressure: To keep the pressure inside a sealed environment at a specific level, often for safety, comfort, or functional reasons.
- (Figurative) To apply psychological or social pressure: To coerce or attempt to force someone into doing something.
Usage
- The verb "pressurize" is used with a direct object (e.g., pressurize ).
- It is often used in technical, engineering, and aviation contexts.
- In its figurative sense, it is commonly used in social, business, or personal contexts.
Examples
Technical/Physical Meaning:
- The engineers had to pressurize the fuel tank before the test.
- For high-altitude flights, the cockpit must be pressurized to protect the crew.
- This device pressurizes the water in the irrigation system.
Figurative/Psychological Meaning:
- Don't let them pressurize you into making a hasty decision.
- She felt pressurized by her family's high expectations.
Advanced Usage
- "to pressurize someone into (doing) something": A common collocation for the figurative use, meaning to apply pressure to make someone act.
- The manager tried to pressurize the team into working overtime.
Variants and Related Words
- Pressurization (noun): The act or process of pressurizing.
- Cabin pressurization is essential for commercial air travel.
- Pressurized (adjective): Describing something that is under pressure.
- The astronauts entered the pressurized module.
- He works in a pressurized environment with tight deadlines. (Figurative)
- Depressurize (verb): The opposite action; to reduce or release pressure.
- The aircraft will slowly depressurize as it descends.
Synonyms
- Physical: Compress, pump up.
- Figurative: Coerce, pressure, force, compel, bully.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
(Note: "Pressurize" itself does not commonly form phrasal verbs. The figurative meaning is typically expressed with the preposition "into.") - Pressure into: A near-synonymous phrase for the figurative sense. - They pressured him into signing the contract.
Related Idioms
(Note: There are no common idioms centered solely on the word "pressurize." Its figurative use is direct.)
Verb
- increase the pressure in or of
- The captain will pressurize the cabin for the passengers' comfort
- maintain a certain pressure
- the airplane cabin is pressurized
- pressurize a space suit
- increase the pressure on a gas or liquid