Category:Pressure

Pres"sure (138), n. Etym: [of., fr. L. pressura, fr. premere. See 4th press.]

1. The act of pressing, or the condition of being pressed; Compression; a squeezing; a crushing; as, a pressure of the hand.

2. A contrasting force or impulse of any kind; as, the pressure of Poverty; the pressure of taxes; the pressure of motives on the mind; The pressure of civilization. Where the pressure of danger was not felt. Macaulay.

3. Affliction; distress; grievance. My people's pressures are grievous. Eikon basilike. In the midst of his great troubles and pressures. Atterbury.

4. Urgency; as, the pressure of business.

5. Impression; stamp; character impressed. All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past. Shak.

6. (mech.)

Defn: the action of a force against some obstacle or opposing force; A force in the nature of a thrust, distributed over a surface, often Estimated with reference to the upon a unit's area. Atmospheric Pressure, center of pressure, etc. See under atmospheric, center, Etc. -- back pressure (steam engine), pressure which resists the motion Of the piston, as the pressure of exhaust steam which does not find Free outlet. -- fluid pressure, pressure like that exerted by a fluid. It is a Thrust which is normal and equally intense in all directions around a Point. Rankine. -- pressure gauge, a gauge for indicating fluid pressure; a Manometer.