Advertisement

decompress

[dee-kuhm-pres]

verb (used with object)

  1. to cause to undergo decompression.



verb (used without object)

  1. to undergo decompression.

  2. Informal.to relax; unwind.

decompress

/ ˌ徱ːəˈɛ /

verb

  1. to relieve (a substance) of pressure or (of a substance) to be relieved of pressure

  2. to return (a diver, caisson worker, etc) to a condition of normal atmospheric pressure gradually from a condition of increased pressure or (of a diver, etc) to be returned to such a condition

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • decompressive adjective
  • ˌ𳦴dzˈDz noun
  • ˌ𳦴dzˈ adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of decompress1

1900–05; translation of French édz. See de-, compress
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Chavez: That’s the thing that’s so funny is like, I get asked this question sometimes, like, “How do you decompress in between days?”

From

He probably just needed some downtime, decompressing, healthy juices and vitamin D to get him back on track.

From

Playing and making music, Ramsey shares, are among the things they turn to in order to decompress.

From

They were then rapidly decompressed to 25,000ft in three seconds to see if they would blow up.

From

On the day it happened, he spent the day sitting outside listening to music to decompress.

From

Advertisement

Discover More

When To Use

doesdecompress mean?

Decompress means to release or reduce pressure.This literal meaning of decompress can be used in several contexts. Divers who’ve spent time in deep water decompress by coming up slowly. Divers and other underwater workers sometimes decompress by using a decompression chamber. The goal of these processes is to return the body to normal atmospheric pressure in order to avoid decompression sickness.In a medical context, to decompress is to release pressure in the body, such as from inside the skull through surgery.Decompress can also be used in a figurative way meaning to relax or unwind. This sense of the word likens stress to pressure within the body that needs to be released. A close synonym is destress. An even more informal way of saying this is blow off steam.In all senses of the word, the process of decompressing is called decompression.Example: Yoga really helps me to decompress after a stressful day at work.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


decompounddecompression