pressure

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
pressure/ˈpreʃə(r)/

▶noun

• 1 continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it.

  ■ the force per unit area exerted by a fluid against a surface.

• 2 the use of persuasion, intimidation, etc. to make someone do something.

  ■ a feeling of stressful urgency.

▶verb attempt to persuade or coerce into doing something.

– origin ME: from OFr., from L. pressura, from press- ‘pressed’, from premere (see press1).