- 1[transitive, intransitive] to press or squeeze something together or into a smaller space; to be pressed or squeezed in this way compress something (into something) compressed air/gas As more snow fell, the bottom layer was compressed into ice. She compressed her lips. compress (into something) Her lips compressed into a thin line.
- 2[transitive] compress something (into something) to reduce something and fit it into a smaller space or amount of time synonym condense The main arguments were compressed into one chapter. Rehearsal time will have to be compressed into two evenings.
- 3[transitive] compress something (computing) to make computer files, etc. smaller so that they use less space on a disk, etc. opposite decompress
compress
verbNAmE//kəmˈprɛs//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they compress he / she / it compresses
past simple compressed
-ing form compressing
NAmE//kəmˈprɛʃn//
noun [uncountable] the compression of air data compressionSee compress in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: compress