press
PRESS
/pres/
To smooth out wrinkles in fabric using heat and flat pressure, usually with an iron.
Pressing involves lifting and setting the iron down firmly on specific sections, whereas ironing involves sliding back and forth.
The story behind the word. Directly descended from Latin 'premere' (to press or crush). In medieval Europe, garments were pressed between weighted wooden planks or heavy heated metal plates to flatten linen folds before handheld electric irons existed.
Word relationships
- iron: Ironing uses a sliding motion across fabric, while pressing uses static downward pressure, crucial for tailored seams.
- smooth: Smooth is a general physical action, while press specifically implies thermal and weighted force on cloth.
- crumple: Crumple means to crush into irregular creases and wrinkles.
- wrinkle: Wrinkle means to cause unwanted creases on fabric.
Commonly confused with
- suppress: Suppress means to hold back or forcibly quell, whereas press means applying downward force or smoothing fabric.
Word family
- presser (noun): A person or machine that presses clothes.
- pressure (noun): Continuous physical force exerted on an object.
Collocations
- press a shirt
- steam press
- permanently pressed
- press seams open
Idioms & expressions
- pressed for time
- hot off the press
Example sentences
- "The tailor will press the seams flat using a steam iron to give the suit suit crisp lines." Professional tailoring
- "Make sure to press your trousers thoroughly before attending the formal dinner." Formal dress prep
Memory hook
PRESS down hard with the iron to remove wrinkles. Firm pressure flattens creases.
When not to use
Do not confuse pressing garments with pressing buttons or print news media, although they share historical roots.
Fun facts
- In commercial garment factories, pneumatic utility presses apply over 50 pounds of steam-heated weight per square inch to shape jacket lapels in seconds.
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