push

/poosh/, v.t.

1. to press upon or against (a thing) with force in order to move it away.

2. to move (something) in a specified way by exerting force; shove; drive: to push something aside; to push the door open.

3. to effect or accomplish by thrusting obstacles aside: to push one's way through the crowd.

4. to cause to extend or project; thrust.

5. to press or urge to some action or course: His mother pushed him to get a job.

6. to press (an action, proposal, etc.) with energy and insistence: to push a bill through Congress.

7. to carry (an action or thing) toward a conclusion or extreme: She pushed the project to completion.

8. to press the adoption, use, sale, etc., of: to push inferior merchandise on customers.

9. to press or bear hard upon, as in dealings with someone: The prosecutor pushed him for an answer.

10. to put into difficulties because of the lack of something specified (usually fol. by for): to be pushed for time.

11. Slang. to peddle (illicit drugs).

12. Informal. to be approaching a specific age, speed, or the like: The maestro is pushing ninety-two.

13. Photog. to modify (film processing) to compensate for underexposure.

v.i.

14. to exert a thrusting force upon something.

15. to use steady force in moving a thing away; shove.

16. to make one's way with effort or persistence, as against difficulty or opposition.

17. to extend or project; thrust: The point of land pushed far out into the sea.

18. to put forth vigorous or persistent efforts.

19. Slang. to sell illicit drugs.

20. to move on being pushed: a swinging door that pushes easily.

21. push around, to treat contemptuously and unfairly; bully: She's not the kind of person who can be pushed around.

22. push off, Informal. to go away; depart: We stopped at Denver for the night and were ready to push off again the following morning.

23. push on, to press forward; continue; proceed: The pioneers, despite overwhelming obstacles, pushed on across the plains.

24. push one's luck. See luck (def. 9).

n.

25. the act of pushing; a shove or thrust.

26. a contrivance or part to be pushed in order to operate a mechanism.

27. a vigorous onset or effort.

28. a determined advance against opposition, obstacles, etc.

29. a vigorous and determined military attack or campaign: The big push began in April.

30. the pressure of circumstances, activities, etc.

31. Informal. persevering energy; enterprise.

32. Informal. a crowd or company of people.

33. Brit. dismissal from a job; sack.

34. Australian Slang. a gang of hoodlums.

35. when or if push comes to shove, when or if matters are ultimately confronted or resolved; when or if a problem must be faced; in a crucial situation: If push comes to shove, the government will impose quotas on imports.

[1250-1300; ME pushen, poshen, posson (v.) < MF pousser, OF po(u)lser < L pulsare. See PULSATE]

Syn. 3. shoulder. 5. persuade, impel.

* * *