compression
noun
Simple meaning
An increase in density.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
kuhmprehshuhnSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
kəmpˈɹɛʃən
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
An increase in density; the act of compressing, or the state of being compressed; compaction.
computing
The process by which data is compressed.
automotive
The cycle of an internal combustion engine during which the fuel and air mixture is compressed.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A2 · Elementary (estimated)
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: An increase in density; the act of compressing, or the state of being compressed; compaction.
Used this way, compression is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use compression
- “File compression helps save space on my computer's hard drive.”
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Bandage that stops the flow of blood from an artery by applying pressure.
Fracture in which the bone collapses (especially in short bones such as vertebrae).
The compression of graphics for storage or transmission.
Harmful pressure on a nerve (especially in nerves that pass over rigid prominences).
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What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.