Compress

Compress, kom-pres′, v.t. to press together: to force into a narrower space: to condense or concentrate.—n. Com′press, soft folds of linen, &c., formed into a pad, and used in surgery to apply any requisite pressure to any part: a wet cloth, covered with waterproof, applied to the skin.—adj. Compressed′.—ns. Compressibil′ity, Compres′sibleness, the property that bodies have of being reduced in volume by pressure—the ratio of the amount of compression per unit volume to the compressing force applied.—adj. Compres′sible, that may be compressed.—n. Compres′sion, act of compressing: state of being compressed, condensation.—adjs. Compres′sional; Compres′sive, able to compress.—ns. Compres′sor, anything that compresses; a muscle that compresses certain parts; Compres′sure.—Compressed-air bath, a strong chamber of iron plates in which a patient can sit, and into which air is driven by a steam-engine to any required pressure; Compressed-air motor, any mode of employing air as a motive-power, as in automatic railway-brakes, &c. [L. compressāre, com, together, and pressāre, to press—premĕre, pressum, to press.]