Other forms: pressures
Pressure is the pushing force spread over a surface. Air pressure, blood pressure, under pressure.
In physics it is force divided by area, which is why a drawing pin goes in and a thumb does not. Blood pressure and tyre pressure are the two everybody measures. Figuratively, pressure is the strain of demands or expectation: under pressure, put pressure on, pressure of work. Note pressurise, which in British use covers both the cabin and the person; and peer pressure.
1nounpressureThe pushing force spread over a surface.
“Check the tyre pressure before you set off on a long drive.”
2nounstrainThe strain of demands or expectation.
“She's under a lot of pressure at work because of the deadline.”
Too few real examples of this word to estimate which sense is commonest.
pressure is a force or a strain.
Latin pressura comes from premere, to press. Express, impress, oppress and print all come from the same pressing.
Latin
pressūra
English, today
pressure
From Latin pressūra. Latin pressūra.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA