late 14c., "suffering, anguish; act or fact of pressing on the mind or heart," from Old French presseure "oppression; torture; anguish; press" (for wine or cheeses), "instrument of torture" (12c.) and directly from Latin pressura "action of pressing," from pressus, past participle of premere "to press" (see press (v.1)).
Literal meaning "act or fact of pressing" in a physical sense is attested from early 15c. Meaning "moral or mental coercing force" is from 1620s; meaning "urgency" is from 1812. Scientific sense in physics is from 1650s. Pressure cooker is attested from 1915; figurative sense is from 1958. Pressure point is attested from 1876. Pressure-treated, of woods, is from 1911.
"to pressurize," 1886, American English, from pressure (n.). Meaning "to exert pressure on" (someone) is attested by 1922. Related: Pressured; pressuring.
双语例句
1. The government wilted in the face of such powerful pressure.
政府面对如此大的压力，失去了信心。
来自柯林斯例句
2. He is being constantly monitored with regular checks on his blood pressure.
他被实时监测，定时量血压。
来自柯林斯例句
3. He was under pressure to resign and was about to be sidelined.
他承受着被迫辞职的压力，很快就要被排挤出去了。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The built-in safety device compensates for a fall in water pressure.
该内置式安全装置在水压下降时能提供保护。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Pressure appears to be mounting for conformity in how people speak English.
