• Push

    Pronunciation

    • enPR: po͝osh, IPA: /pʊʃ/
    • Rhymes: -ʊʃ

    Origin 1

    Middle English pushen, poshen, posson, from Middle French pousser (Modern French pousser) from Old French poulser, from Latin pulsare, frequentative of pellere (past participle pulsus) "to beat, strike". Displaced native Middle English thrucchen ("to push") (from Old English þryccan ("to push")), Middle English scauten ("to push, thrust") (from Old Norse skota), Middle English schoven ("to push, shove") (from Old English scofian), Middle English schuven ("to shove, push") (from Old English scūfan, scēofan ("to shove, push, thrust")), Middle English thuden, thudden ("to push, press, thrust") (from Old English þȳdan, þyddan ("to thrust, press, push")).

    Full definition of push

    Verb

    1. (transitive, intransitive) To apply a force to (an object) such that it moves away from the person or thing applying the force.In his anger he pushed me against the wall and threatened me.You need to push quite hard to get this door open.
    2. (transitive) To continually attempt to persuade (a person) into a particular course of action.
      • Jonathan SwiftWe are pushed for an answer.
      • SpectatorAmbition pushes the soul to such actions as are apt to procure honour to the actor.
    3. (transitive) To press or urge forward; to drive.to push an objection too far; to push one's luck
      • Drydento push his fortune
    4. (transitive) To continually promote (a point of view, a product for sale, etc.).Stop pushing the issue — I'm not interested.They're pushing that perfume again.There were two men hanging around the school gates today, pushing drugs.
    5. (informal, transitive) To approach; to come close to.My old car is pushing 250,000 miles.He's pushing sixty. (= he's nearly sixty years old)
    6. (intransitive) To tense the muscles in the abdomen in order to expel its contents.During childbirth, there are times when the obstetrician advises the woman not to push.
    7. (intransitive) To continue to attempt to persuade a person into a particular course of action.
    8. To make a higher bid at an auction.
    9. (poker) To make an all-in bet.
    10. (chess, transitive) To move (a pawn) directly forward.
    11. (computing) To add (a data item) to the top of a stack.
      • 1992, Michael A. Miller, The 68000 Microprocessor Family: Architecture, Programming, and Applications (page 47)When the microprocessor decodes the JSR opcode, it stores the operand into the TEMP register and pushes the current contents of the PC ($00 0128) onto the stack.
    12. (obsolete) To thrust the points of the horns against; to gore.
      • Bible, Exodus xxi. 32If the ox shall push a manservant or maidservant, ... the ox shall be stoned.
    13. To burst out of its pot, as a bud or shoot.

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

    • (apply a force to something so it moves away) to draw, to pull, to tug

    Noun

    push

    (plural pushes)
    1. A short, directed application of force; an act of pushing.Give the door a hard push if it sticks.
    2. An act of tensing the muscles of the abdomen in order to expel its contents.One more push and the baby will be out.
    3. A great effort (to do something).Some details got lost in the push to get the project done.Let's give one last push on our advertising campaign.
    4. (military) A marching or drill maneuver/manoeuvre performed by moving a formation (especially a company front) forward or toward the audience, usually to accompany a dramatic climax or crescendo in the music.
    5. A wager that results in no loss or gain for the bettor as a result of a tie or even score
    6. (computing) The addition of a data item to the top of a stack.
    7. (Internet, uncountable) The situation where a server sends data to a client without waiting for a request, as in server push, push technology.
    8. (dated) A crowd or throng or people
      • 1891, Banjo Paterson, Till some wild, excited personGalloped down the township cursing,"Sydney push have mobbed Macpherson,Roll up, Dandaloo!"

    Pronunciation

    Origin 2

    Probably French poche. See pouch.

    Noun

    push

    (plural pushes)
    1. (obsolete, UK, dialect) A pustule; a pimple.----
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