ETYM Corrupt. from prest ready money advanced, a loan; hence, earnest money given soldiers on entering service. Related to Prest.
1. To be urgent.
2. To create by pressing.
3. To crowd closely.
4. To exert pressure or force to or upon.
5. To place between two surfaces and apply weight or pressure.

(Irregular plural: presses).
1. Any machine that exerts pressure to form or shape or cut materials or extract liquids or compress solids.
2. A machine used for printing; SYN. printing press.
3. Clamp to prevent wooden rackets from warping when not in use.
4. Printed matter in the form of newspapers or magazines; SYN. public press.
5. The news media in general.
6. The act of pressing; SYN. pressure, pressing.
7. A weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then smoothly lifted overhead; SYN. military press.
8. The news media, in particular newspapers, journals, and periodical literature generally. The term is used also to describe journalists and reporters.