press

Compared meaning: apply force to something with your hand (verb).

比较义项：用手对物体施力（推动、按压或挤压）（动词）。

• push

  Push means applying force to move something away from you or in a direction, causing displacement; it does not necessarily imply the object is compressed or held still.

  push（推）指用力使物体朝某个方向移动，强调使物体产生位移，并不一定压缩或固定住物体。

  He had to push the heavy door open.

  他不得不用力推开那扇沉重的门。

• press 本词

  Press means applying steady force against a surface, often to activate, flatten, or hold something in place, without necessarily moving it away.

  press（按，压）指对某个表面持续施力，常用于启动、压平或固定物体，不一定使物体移开。

  Press the dough flat with your palm before rolling it out.

  用手掌把面团按平，然后再擀开。

• squeeze

  Squeeze means applying pressure from multiple sides to compress something tightly, often to extract liquid or reduce its size, implying a firm grip.

  squeeze（挤压）指从多个方向对物体施力使其受压变形，常用于挤出液体或缩小体积，强调用力紧握。

  He squeezed the sponge until every drop of water was gone.

  他挤压海绵，把每一滴水都挤了出来。

Push, press, and squeeze all mean applying force by hand, but the goal differs: push moves something away, press holds it steady, and squeeze compresses it from several sides or forces out liquid. Press can also mean 'news media', not compared here.

push、press 和 squeeze 都表示用手对物体施力，但方向和目的不同：push 强调使物体移动位置，press 强调持续按压使物体保持接触或固定，squeeze 强调从多个方向用力将物体压紧或挤出内容物。这里不比较 press 作名词表示“新闻界／媒体”的用法（如the press gathered outside the building）。

Compared meaning: strongly urge someone to do something (verb).

比较义项：迫使或极力劝说某人做某事（动词）。

• press 本词

  Press implies applying steady, sometimes insistent pressure to make someone act, occasionally bordering on coercion; common in everyday and journalistic use, as in 'press someone for an answer'.

  press 强调持续施加压力促使某人行动，语气有时带有强迫意味，甚至接近逼迫；常用于日常和新闻语境，如“press someone for an answer”（逼问某人）。

  Her lawyer pressed her to settle the case before the trial began.

  在庭审开始前，她的律师极力促使她接受和解。

• exhort

  Exhort implies earnestly encouraging or urging someone, especially to persevere or behave well; it is more formal or literary, carrying a positive, motivational tone, often addressed to a group.

  exhort 强调真诚地鼓励或劝勉某人，尤其是劝其坚持或行事得当；语气更正式或书面化，带有积极、激励性的色彩，常用于对群体讲话。

  The captain exhorted his tired teammates to give one final push before the whistle.

  队长在终场哨响之前极力鼓励疲惫的队员们再拼一把。

Press and exhort both mean urging someone to act, but the tone differs. Press suggests steady, insistent, almost forceful pressure. Exhort means earnestly encouraging someone to keep trying or behave well; it is more formal, positive, and often used for groups.

这两个词都表示促使某人采取行动，但语气和方式不同：press 强调持续施加压力甚至带有强迫意味，语气较强硬、可偏负面；exhort 强调真诚、郑重地鼓励或劝勉，常见于激励性或书面语境，语气更积极正式。

Compared meaning: make clothes smooth with heat (verb).

比较义项：熨烫衣物（动词）。

• iron

  The everyday, common word for this action, usually done at home with a hand-held iron on garments like shirts or sheets; the default choice for most speakers.

  这是最日常、最常用的说法，通常在家里用手持熨斗熨烫衬衫、床单等衣物，是大多数人默认使用的词。

  She ironed her cotton shirt every morning before heading to work.

  她每天早上上班前都会熨烫她的棉衬衫。

• press 本词

  Suggests a more careful or professional job, often done with a pressing machine on suits or trousers, typically at a dry cleaner's; sounds slightly more formal.

  暗示更精细或专业的处理，常用压烫机熨烫西装、长裤，多见于干洗店场景，语气略显正式。

  The dry cleaner pressed his suit trousers with a large pressing machine.

  干洗店用大型压烫机熨烫了他的西裤。

Iron and press both mean making clothes smooth with heat, but the setting differs. Iron is the everyday word, used at home. Press suggests a more careful, professional job, often done at a dry cleaner's. Other meanings of iron and press are not compared.

iron 和 press 在“熨烫衣物”这个意义上很接近，但语气和使用场合略有不同：iron 是日常家庭熨烫时最常用的词，press 更强调专业、正式的熨烫处理，常见于干洗店场景，语气略显正式。这里不比较 press 的“新闻界”“按压”等其他常见意义，也不比较 iron 作为名词“熨斗”的意义。