Compression

/kəmˈprɛʃən/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The act of reducing the volume or size of something, often through applying pressure.

The compression of the data helped speed up the transmission over the network.

The state of being compacted or made smaller.

The compression of the foam made it easier to store.

In medicine, the act of applying pressure to a body part, typically to control bleeding.

The paramedic applied compression to the wound to stop the bleeding.

In physics, the process by which the volume of an object is decreased under pressure.

The compression of the gas increased its temperature.

A technique in data handling that reduces the size of files.

File compression is useful for saving disk space and speeding up downloads.

Late Middle English: from Latin compressio(n-), from comprimere ‘to press together’.

air compression

A process where air is compressed to increase pressure.

data compression

The reduction of data size for efficient storage or transmission.

compression socks

Specialized socks designed to apply pressure to the legs.

compress

To press something into a smaller space.

compressed

Having been made smaller or pressed together.

compressive

Relating to the act of compression.

Getting compressed in or squeezed into a small space.

That bus was so packed, we were all in serious compression.

Feeling overwhelmed, as if under pressure.

I've been feeling the compression with all these deadlines.