compress 1 verb  Related topics: Computers com‧press 1 [intransitive and transitive] to press something or make it smaller so that it takes up less space, or to become smaller: Light silk is best for parachutes, as it compresses well and then expands rapidly. Isobel nodded, her lips compressed. compress something into something Snow falling on the mountainsides is compressed into ice. The miners used rock drills and compressed air to drive through hard rock. 2 [intransitive and transitive] to make a computer file smaller by using a special computer program, which makes the file easier to store or send, or to become smaller in this way: The program compresses any data saved to the disk. 3 [transitive] to write or express something using fewer words[= condense] compress something into something In this chapter we compress into summary form the main issues discussed so far. 4 [transitive ] to reduce the amount of time that it takes for something to happen or be done compress something into something Many couples want to compress their childbearing into a short space of time in their married life. compressed your file and upload it. His lips compressed because he was sad.