ETYM Old Fren., from Latin pressura, from premere. Related to Press.
In physics, the force acting normally (at right angles) to a body per unit surface area. The si unit of pressure is the pascal (newton per square meter), equal to 0.01 millibars. In a fluid (liquid or gas), pressure increases with depth. At the edge of Earth's atmosphere, pressure is zero, whereas at sea level atmospheric pressure due to the weight of the air above is about 100 kilopascals (1,013 millibars or 1 atmosphere). Pressure is commonly measured by means of a barometer, manometer, or Bourdon gauge.
Pressure at a depth h in a fluid of density d is equal to hdg, where g is the acceleration due to gravity.
1. A force that compels.
2. The force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (si unit) or in dynes (cgs unit); SYN. force per unit area.
3. The somatic sensation of pressure; SYN. pressure sensation.

1. To apply pressure to
2. Pressurize
3. To cook in a pressure cooker