compression
UK: kəmˈprɛʃən | US: kəmˈprɛʃən
n. the action of compressing or being compressed
n. (physics) the reduction in volume of a fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine before ignition
n. (computing) the process of reducing the size of a data file
The word "compression" derives from the Latin comprimere (com- "together" + premere "to press"), which entered Middle English via Old French compresser. The morpheme "com-" signifies unity or intensity, while "press" retains its core meaning of applying force. Over time, "compression" evolved to describe both physical squeezing (e.g., gases) and abstract reduction (e.g., data). The suffix "-ion" nominalizes the action, a pattern common in Latin-derived English words.
The compression of the spring stores potential energy.
JPEG is a popular format for image compression.
The doctor applied compression to stop the bleeding.
High compression ratios improve engine efficiency.
Data compression reduces storage space requirements.