compression

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com·pres·sion

(kəm-prĕsh′ən)

a. The act or process of compressing.

b. The state of being compressed.

a. The process by which the working substance in a heat engine, such as the vapor mixture in the cylinder of an internal-combustion engine, is compressed.

b. The engine cycle during which this process occurs.

3. Computers The process by which data is compressed into a form that minimizes the space required to store or transmit it.

com·pres′sion·al adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

compression

(kəmˈprɛʃən)

1. Also called: compressure the act of compressing or the condition of being compressed

2. (Mechanical Engineering) an increase in pressure of the charge in an engine or compressor obtained by reducing its volume

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

com•pres•sion

(kəmˈprɛʃ ən)

n.

1. the act of compressing.

2. the state of being compressed.

3. the effect or result of being compressed.

4. (in internal-combustion engines) the reduction in volume and increase of pressure of the air or combustible mixture in the cylinder prior to ignition.

5. reduction of the size of computer data by efficient storage.

Also, com•pres′sure (for defs. 1, 2).

[1350–1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin]

com•pres′sion•al, adj.

com·pres·sion

(kəm-prĕsh′ən)

A force that tends to shorten or squeeze something, decreasing its volume.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	compression - an increase in the density of something compaction, densification, concretion concentration - increase in density
	2.	compression - the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together; "the contraction of a gas on cooling" contraction, condensation shrinkage, shrinking - process or result of becoming less or smaller; "the material lost 2 inches per yard in shrinkage" coarctation, constriction - tight or narrow compression
	3.	compression - encoding information while reducing the bandwidth or bits required encoding, encryption - the activity of converting data or information into code image compression - the compression of graphics for storage or transmission MPEG - a set of standards adopted by the moving pictures experts group for the compression of digital video and audio data or a file of data compressed according to those standards decompression - restoring compressed information to its normal form for use or display
	4.	compression - applying pressure compressing pressing, pressure, press - 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" squeeze, squeezing - the act of gripping and pressing firmly; "he gave her cheek a playful squeeze" condensing, condensation - the act of increasing the density of something compaction, crunch, crush - the act of crushing constriction - the action or process of compressing decompressing, decompression - relieving pressure (especially bringing a compressed person gradually back to atmospheric pressure)

compression

noun squeezing, pressing, crushing, consolidation, condensation, constriction The compression of the wood is easily achieved.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

compression

noun

A compressing of something:

constriction, squeeze.

Translations

ضَغْط، إنْضِغاط

stlačení

sammenpresning

Zusammenpressen

compresión

compression

samòjöppun

compattamento dei dati compattazione dei dati compressione dei dati pressione

kompresjon sammenpressing sammentrykking

компрессия

stlačenie

sıkıştırma

压缩

compression

[kəmˈpreʃən] N → compresión f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

compression

[kəmˈprɛʃ^ən] n [air, gas] → compression f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

compression

n → Verdichtung f, → Kompression f; (of information etc) → Komprimieren nt; the gas is in a state of very high compression → das Gas ist stark verdichtet or komprimiert

compression

compression bandage

n → Druck- or Kompressionsverband m

compression ratio

n → Verdichtungs- or Kompressionsverhältnis nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

compression

[kəmˈprɛʃ/ən] n → compressione f

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

compress

(kəmˈpres) verb

to press together; to force into a narrower space. All his belongings were compressed into a very small suitcase.

comˈpressible adjective

comˈpression (-ʃən) noun

compressed air

air which is at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. Deep sea divers breathe compressed air.

compression

n compresión f; chest compressions compresiones torácicas; intermittent pneumatic — compresión neumática intermitente; spinal cord — compresión medular (form), compresión de la médula espinal

References in classic literature ?

In those two compressions, or dints, the only little change that the face ever showed, resided.

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They too do wrong who forbid by laws the disputes between boys and their quarrels, for they contribute to increase their growth--as they are a sort of exercise to the body: for the struggles of the heart and the compression of the spirits give strength to those who labour, which happens to boys in their disputes.

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He sat rather sideways in the armchair next to the countess, arranging with his right hand the cleanest of gloves that fitted his left hand like a skin, and he spoke with a particularly refined compression of his lips about the amusements of the highest Petersburg society, recalling with mild irony old times in Moscow and Moscow acquaintances.

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It is generally found possible -- by a little artificial compression or expansion on the part of the State physicians -- to make some of the more intelligent leaders of a rebellion perfectly Regular, and to admit them at once into the privileged classes; a much larger number, who are still below the standard, allured by the prospect of being ultimately ennobled, are induced to enter the State Hospitals, where they are kept in honourable confinement for life; one or two alone of the more obstinate, foolish, and hopelessly irregular are led to execution.

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The anxiety, which in this state of their attachment must be the portion of Henry and Catherine, and of all who loved either, as to its final event, can hardly extend, I fear, to the bosom of my readers, who will see in the tell-tale compression of the pages before them, that we are all hastening together to perfect felicity.

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The appearance of the infant, however, while in this state of compression, is whimsically hideous, and "its little black eyes," we are told, "being forced out by the tightness of the bandages, resemble those of a mouse choked in a trap."

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His firm step becomes quicker, and the corners of his mouth rebel against the compression which is meant to forbid a smile.

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"Now, if water is not absolutely incompressible, it is at least capable of very slight compression. Indeed, after the most recent calculations this reduction is only .000436 of an atmosphere for each thirty feet of depth.

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The compression of the belt threatened to suffocate the intrepid fellow; he called to his friends to draw him up, but could not make them hear.

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If I suddenly asked him what he wanted, he would make me no answer, but continue staring at me persistently for some seconds, then, with a peculiar compression of his lips and a most significant air, deliberately turn round and deliberately go back to his room.

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The compression of his thin lips was full of significance.

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Still all were distinguished by a certain sodden swarthiness of complexion, a filmy dimness of eye, and pallor and compression of lip.