pressure

Etymology

From Old French, from Latin pressūra.

noun

1. A pressing; a force applied to a surface.
   Apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding.
2. A contrasting force or impulse of any kind
   the pressure of poverty; the pressure of taxes; the pressure of motives on the mind; the pressure of civilization.
   Hostile forces are putting pressure on our people. Take out their supply line to give our troops room to breathe. 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Disrupt Enemy Supplies
3. Distress.
   She has felt pressure lately because her boss expects her to get the job done by the first.
   My people's pressures are grievous. 1649, Eikon Basilike
   October 31, 1708, Francis Atterbury, a sermon preach'd before the Queen at St. James's In the midst of his great troubles and pressures.
   Thirty-five years ago, many journeys around London meant having to pass through the centre of the capital. That's no longer the case, which takes real pressure off the city's termini as well as underground routes such as the Circle Line. May 20 2020, Paul Bigland, “East London Line's renaissance”, in Rail, page 49
4. Urgency
   the pressure of business
5. (obsolete) Impression; stamp; character impressed.
6. (physics) The amount of force that is applied over a given area divided by the size of this area; force per unit area.

verb

1. (transitive) To encourage or heavily exert force or influence.
   Do not let anyone pressure you into buying something you do not want.