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Glite Dictionary
😌 To relax 🫧 To release pressure 💾 To extract data
to decompress

to decompress

5 5.2
Let air or gas out to lower the pressure
  • verb
  • /ˌdiːkəmˈprɛs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : despresurizar
  • The egg opens up with a whoosh of decompressing air.

Examples

  • The main treatment goals are to relieve the osteomeatal obstruction, decompress the maxillary sinus, and repair the cosmetic defect.

    Academic text (2008)

  • But when it's time to decompress, they gradually decrease the pressure in the habitat.

  • Jones says, like humans, dolphins must decompress before heading to the surface from deep water.

    Blog text (22)

  • The patient underwent emergency surgery via a left suboccipital approach to decompress the enlarged tumor and relieve the brainstem compression.

    Academic text (2002)

  • After a long ascent, divers must decompress slowly to avoid getting the bends.

  • To safely decompress the gas in the canister, you need to open the valve gently.

  • Make sure to decompress the pressure in the tank before conducting any maintenance.

Synonyms

to deflate
vsto decompress
18 3.1

To let air out of something so it becomes smaller or loses its shape

focuses on lowering pressure without implying shrinkage or loss of shape
to depressurize
vsto decompress
  • Specialized
9 6.3

To lower air or gas pressure inside a sealed space such as a tank

is broader, applying to pressure release in any system not only sealed spaces

Antonyms

to compress
94 3.7

To press something so it takes less space

How Depressurized

to depressurize
  • Specialized
9 6.3
to decompress
  • Specialized
5 5.2
to bleed
  • Specialized
9 4.9

Surface Forms

decompress infinitive
decompressed past
decompressed past participle
decompressing present participle
decompresses third person singular

Morphology

decompress = compress (transparent) = de + compress

The prefix 'de-' transparently signals reversal or removal, so 'decompress' means to undo compression or release pressure.

Etymology

Decompress comes from the pieces de- 'remove' and compress 'press together', the same idea you see in press and 'pressure'. So to decompress something is to let out pressure, for example releasing air or gas safely.