compression

compression
—compressional, adj.
/keuhm presh"euhn/, n.
1. the act of compressing.
2. the state of being compressed.
3. the effect, result, or consequence of being compressed.
4. (in internal-combustion engines) the reduction in volume and increase of pressure of the air or combustible mixture in the cylinder prior to ignition, produced by the motion of the piston toward the cylinder head after intake.
5. reduction of the size of computer data by efficient storage.
Also, compressure /keuhm presh"euhr/ (for defs. 1, 2).
[1350-1400; ME ( < AF) < L compression- (s. of compressio), equiv. to compress(us) ptp. of comprimere to press together (see COM-, PRESS1) + -ion- -ION]

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      decrease in volume of any object or substance resulting from applied stress. Compression may be undergone by solids, liquids, and gases and by living systems. In the latter, compression is measured against the system's volume at the standard pressure to which an organism is subjected—e.g., the pressure of the atmosphere at sea level is the standard, or reference, for most land animals, but the standard for deep-sea fishes and similar specialized forms is the normal pressure of their environment.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • compression — [ kɔ̃presjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1361; lat. compressio, de comprimere 1 ♦ Action de comprimer. ⇒ pression. Compression de l air. La compression augmente la densité. Spécialt Phase précédant l explosion dans le cycle d un moteur à explosion. Taux de… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Compression — may refer to: In physical science Compression (physical), the result of the subjection of a material to compressive stress Compression member, a class of structural elements, of which a column is the most common specific example Compressibility,… …   Wikipedia

  • Compression — Com*pres sion, n. [L. compressio: cf. F. compression.] 1. The act of compressing, or state of being compressed. Compression of thought. Johnson. [1913 Webster] 2. (Computers) reduction of the space required for storage (of binary data) by an… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • compression — COMPRESSION. s. fém. Action de comprimer, ou l effet qui est produit dans ce qui est comprimé. La compression de l air …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • compression — c.1400, from M.Fr. compression (14c.), from L. compressionem (nom. compressio) a pressing together, noun of action from compress , pp. stem of comprimere (see COMPRESS (Cf. compress)). Related: Compressional wave (1887) …   Etymology dictionary

  • compression — Compression. s. f. v. L effet qui est produit dans ce qui est comprimé. La compression de l air …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Compression — (v. lat.), Druck, Zusammendrückung; daher Compressionsfontaine, s. u. Springbrunnen; Compressionsgefäß der Feuerspritze, s. u. Feuerspritze; Compressionsinstrument, so v. w. Compressorium; Compressionskraft, so v. w. Druckkraft;… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • compression — index abridgment (condensation), abstract, blockade (limitation), capsule, centralization, curtailment …   Law dictionary

  • Compression —   [engl.], Komprimierung …   Universal-Lexikon

  • compression — ► NOUN 1) the action of compressing or being compressed. 2) the reduction in volume (causing an increase in pressure) of the fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine before ignition. DERIVATIVES compressional adjective …   English terms dictionary

  • compression — [kəm presh′ən] n. [ME < OFr < L compressio] 1. a compressing or being compressed 2. Mech. the compressing of the air fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine just before ignition …   English World dictionary

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