Main Entry: com·pres·sion

Pronunciation: \kəm-ˈpre-shən\

Function: noun

Date: 15th century

1 a : the act, process, or result of compressing b : the state of being compressed
2 : the process of compressing the fuel mixture in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine (as in an automobile)
3 : the compressed remains of a fossil plant
4 : conversion (as of data, a data file, or a communications signal) in order to reduce the space occupied or bandwidth required

— com·pres·sion·al \-ˈpresh-nəl, -ˈpre-shə-n^əl\ adjective