compression

noun

com·​pres·​sion kəm-ˈpre-shən 

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

compressional

kəm-ˈpresh-nəl 

-ˈpre-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Synonyms

• squeezing
• condensing
• contraction
• condensation
• squeeze
• contracting
• constriction

Examples of compression in a Sentence

the compression of a long, complicated story into a two-hour movie is never easy

Recent Examples on the Web

The driver’s honking the horn, and the other paramedic is on top of me doing chest compressions. —Nate Jones, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025

How the system works Conventional air conditioners rely on vapor-compression refrigeration that cools and dehumidifies air at the same time, a coupling that often forces overcooling and reheating to maintain comfort. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025

This shouldn’t cause any major video compression problems, though, given that the films only have running times of 96 and 125 minutes respectively. —John Archer, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

And despite the compression achieved so far, Mugel admits that there’s still a long way to go before today’s frontier models can be squeezed onto edge devices. —IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for compression

• accession
• aggression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression
• possession

Kids Definition

compression

noun

com·​pres·​sion kəm-ˈpresh-ən 

1

: the act, process, or result of compressing : the state of being compressed

2

: the process of compressing the fuel mixture in the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine

compressional

-(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Medical Definition

compression

noun

com·​pres·​sion kəm-ˈpresh-ən 

: the act, process, or result of compressing especially when involving a compressing force on a bodily part

compression of an artery by forceps

compression of the brain by the bones of a depressed fracture