compress
B2Formal, Technical, Medical
Definition
Meaning
To press or squeeze something so that it takes up less space; to make smaller or more compact by applying pressure.
To reduce the size, duration, or scope of something; to condense or summarize information; to apply pressure to part of the body for medical reasons.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In computing, 'compress' specifically means to reduce file size using an algorithm. In medicine, it's a noun for a pad applied to a wound. The meaning shifts from physical pressure to metaphorical reduction of abstract things (e.g., time).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. The noun form 'compress' (medical dressing) is used identically.
Connotations
Slightly more technical/medical in general use in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency; perhaps slightly more common in US English in computing contexts due to tech industry.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
compress sth (into sth)compress sth (to sth)be compressedcompress against sthVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “compress time”
- “under compression”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
We need to compress the project timeline by two weeks.
Academic
The author compresses two centuries of history into a single chapter.
Everyday
Can you compress these clothes so they fit in the suitcase?
Technical
The algorithm is used to compress video files without significant quality loss.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The nurse applied a cold compress to his forehead.
- A compress can help reduce swelling.
American English
- She held a warm compress on the muscle.
- A medicated compress was placed on the wound.
verb
British English
- You must compress the files before sending them.
- The soil had been compressed by the heavy machinery.
- She compressed her notes onto a single card.
American English
- Compress the folder to save space.
- The crash compressed the car's front end.
- He compressed a complicated idea into one sentence.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Compress the clothes to close the suitcase.
- The software can compress photos to make them easier to email.
- Use a compress if you have a headache.
- Geological forces compressed the layers of rock over millennia.
- The report compresses months of research into ten pages.
- The director compresses the novel's complex narrative into a compelling two-hour film.
- Dynamically compressed audio can suffer from reduced quality.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a COMputer PRESSing a file to make it smaller: COM-PRESS.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPACE IS TIME (compressing a schedule), INFORMATION IS A SOLID OBJECT (compressing data).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'compress' as a noun for a medical dressing (which exists in English). The Russian verb 'сжимать' is broader; English 'compress' implies reduction in volume/size, not just squeezing.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'compress' for emotional repression (use 'suppress').
- Saying 'compress down' (redundant).
- Confusing noun/verb stress: COM-press (n) vs com-PRESS (v).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'compress' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Compress' often implies physical pressure reducing volume. 'Condense' often implies making something denser or more concise, like a summary. A gas condenses into a liquid; data is compressed.
Yes, metaphorically. E.g., 'We compressed a three-day training into one afternoon.'
Yes, a 'compressor' is a device that compresses air or gas (e.g., in a fridge or engine).
It's a countable noun: 'Apply a warm compress to the area for 10 minutes.'