compression

B2 Topic:Physics

US /kəmˈpɹeʃ.ən/ UK /kəmˈpɹɛʃ.ən/ See IPA manual

Freq #19273

Meanings

1

noun
the act of pressing or squeezing something into a smaller space

Apply firm compression to the wound to stop the bleeding.
2

noun
the process of making computer data take up less space

Image compression makes files quicker to download.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the act of pressing or... compressing contraction

Opposites

decompressionrarefaction

Word family

Forms compressions

Derived forms compandingcompansioncompressionalcompressionlesscryocompressionelectrocompressionmicrocompressionnoncompressionovercompressionprecompressionrecompressionsupercompression

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

compression ratio
the discharge pressure of a gas compressor divided by its intake pressure

Noun + noun

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French compression, from Latin compressiō.

compression Middle French compressiō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Physics Actions & Processes

External links

# compression

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /kəmˈpɹeʃ.ən/
**IPA (UK):** /kəmˈpɹɛʃ.ən/
**Frequency rank:** 19273

## Meanings
1. the act of pressing or squeezing something into a smaller space
2. the process of making computer data take up less space

## Examples
- Apply firm compression to the wound to stop the bleeding.
- Image compression makes files quicker to download.

## Antonyms
- decompression
- rarefaction

## Derived Forms
- companding
- compansion
- compressional
- compressionless
- cryocompression
- electrocompression
- microcompression
- noncompression
- overcompression
- precompression
- recompression
- supercompression

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: compression
- Root: compressiō

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French compression, from Latin compressiō.

## AI Etymology
compression is a noun. It was borrowed from Middle French compression, from Latin compressiō. Historical forms in the chain include compression (Middle French) and compressiō (Latin). Current senses include the act of pressing or squeezing something into a smaller space and the process of making computer data take up less space. Derived forms include companding, compansion, compressional, compressionless, and cryocompression.

## Topics
- Physics
- Actions & Processes

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