push

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the act of applying force in order to move something away

   When we ran out of gas, we had to push our car to the nearest gas station.

2. 2
   noun

   an effort to advance

   the army made a push toward the sea

3. 3
   noun

   an electrical switch operated by pressing

   the elevator was operated by push buttons

4. 4
   noun

   the force used in pushing

   the push of the water on the walls of the tank

5. 5
   verb

   press, drive, or impel someone to action

   My advisor pushed me to finish my doctorate.

6. 6
   verb

   make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby

   `Now push hard,' said the doctor to the woman

7. 7
   verb

   press against forcefully without moving

   I pushed against the wall with all my strength.

8. 8
   verb

   move strenuously and with effort

   The crowd pushed forward

Etymology

From Middle English pushen, poshen, posson, borrowed from Middle French pousser (Modern French pousser) from Old French poulser, from Latin pulsare (“to beat, strike”), frequentative of pellere (past participle pulsus). Doublet of pulsate and pulse (verb). Partly displaced native Old English sċūfan, whence Modern English shove.