printing press: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Historical, Technical
Quick answer
What does “printing press” mean?
A mechanical device used for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a medium (such as paper or cloth), thereby transferring the ink to that medium in order to create multiple copies of text and images.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mechanical device used for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a medium (such as paper or cloth), thereby transferring the ink to that medium in order to create multiple copies of text and images.
The institution or industry of mass-producing printed materials; a metaphor for the spread of ideas, information, or propaganda through published media.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Both use 'printing press'. British English may be slightly more likely to hyphenate as a compound modifier ('printing-press operator').
Connotations
Identical connotations of historical innovation, mass communication, and the dissemination of knowledge or news.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties, though the term is less common in everyday modern discourse, appearing more in historical, academic, or industrial contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “printing press” in a Sentence
[verb] + the printing press (invent, operate, own)the printing press + [verb] (revolutionised, enabled, produced)[adjective] + printing press (movable-type, steam-powered, digital)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “printing press” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The firm printing-presses the broadsheets overnight.
American English
- The company printing presses the brochures in-house.
adverb
British English
- The leaflets were produced printing-press quick.
American English
- The news spread printing-press fast.
adjective
British English
- She researched printing-press mechanics for her dissertation.
American English
- He works in the printing press industry.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to capital equipment in the publishing or packaging industry; e.g., 'We need to upgrade our printing press to meet demand.'
Academic
Used in historical, media studies, or literature contexts to discuss the impact of Gutenberg's invention on society and culture.
Everyday
Used when discussing history, the production of newspapers, books, or flyers; e.g., 'The local newspaper is printed on a huge printing press.'
Technical
Specifies types like 'offset printing press', 'rotary printing press', or 'flexographic printing press', detailing mechanics and print processes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “printing press”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “printing press”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “printing press”
- Using 'printer' for the historical/industrial machine (e.g., 'Gutenberg invented the printer').
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'printings press' instead of 'printing presses'.
- Omitting 'the' when referring to the invention as a whole (e.g., 'Printing press changed history' should be 'The printing press changed history').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a two-word compound noun, commonly written as 'printing press'. It may be hyphenated when used as a compound modifier (e.g., printing-press operator).
Johannes Gutenberg, a German goldsmith, is credited with inventing the first mechanical movable-type printing press in Europe around 1439.
A 'printing press' typically refers to a large, often industrial machine for mass-producing printed material. A 'printer' commonly refers to a modern digital output device for computers or a person whose job is printing.
Yes, it is relevant in historical and academic contexts, and in industries that still use large-scale mechanical printing (e.g., newspapers, book publishing, packaging), though 'digital press' or specific machine names are now common.
A mechanical device used for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a medium (such as paper or cloth), thereby transferring the ink to that medium in order to create multiple copies of text and images.
Printing press is usually formal, historical, technical in register.
Printing press: in British English it is pronounced /ˈprɪntɪŋ ˌpres/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈprɪntɪŋ ˌpres/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Freedom of the press (derived concept)”
- “Hot off the press”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: PRINTING creates many PRESSed copies. The machine PRESSes ink onto paper to PRINT information.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SPREAD OF IDEAS IS MASS PRODUCTION (e.g., 'The ideology was disseminated via the intellectual printing press of the era.').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most significant historical impact of the printing press?