pressure Definition

pressure
noun

1. physics.
The force exerted on a surface divided by the area of the surface to which it is applied.
Thesaurus: weight, heaviness, stress, tension, force, power, burden, thrust, mass, load, encumbrance, strength, strain.
2. The act of pressing or process of being pressed.
3. Force or coercion; forceful persuasion.

Thesaurus: influence, coercion, compulsion, arm-twisting (slang), persuasion, demands, constraint, obligation.
4. Urgency; strong demand.

Example: work under pressure
5. Tension or stress.

Example: the pressures of family life

verb

pressured, pressuring
1. To try to persuade; to coerce, force or pressurize.

Thesaurus: force, compel, impel, press, enjoin, lobby, pressurize, coerce, drive, browbeat, persuade, bully, lean on (slang), sit on (slang), arm-twist (slang), bulldoze (slang); squeeze, induce, oblige, constrain, dragoon.

Etymology: 14c: from Latin pressura, from premere to press.