Com*press" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compressed (?); p. pr & vb. n. Compressing.] [L. compressus, p. p. of comprimere to compress: com- + premere to press. See Press.] 1. To press or squeeze together; to force into a narrower compass; to reduce the volume of by pressure; to compact; to condense; as, to compress air or water.

Events of centuries . . . compressed within the compass of a single life.
D. Webster.

The same strength of expression, though more compressed, runs through his historical harangues.
Melmoth.

2. To embrace sexually. [Obs.] Pope.

Syn. -- To crowd; squeeze; condense; reduce; abridge.

Com"press (?), n. [F. compresse.] (Surg.) A folded piece of cloth, pledget of lint, etc., used to cover the dressing of wounds, and so placed as, by the aid of a bandage, to make due pressure on any part.

• A folded piece of cloth, a pouch of ice, etc., used to cover the dressing of wounds, and placed with the aid of a bandage to apply pressure on an injury.
       He held a cold compress over the sprain.
  
• To make smaller; to press or squeeze together, or to make something occupy a smaller space or volume
       The force required to compress a spring varies linearly with the displacement.
  
• To condense or abridge.
       If you try to compress the entire book into a three-sentence summary, you will lose a lot of information.