What does decompress mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈdɪkəmpraes/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Verb and Noun

Definition

Verb: to release tension or pressure; to make something less complex or easier to understand. Noun: a device for subjecting a medium to pressure in order to remove gases or other impurities.

Examples

• The athlete needed to decompress after the intense training session.
• The software engineer struggled to decompress the large file.

Synonyms

• Relax
• Unwind
• Simplify
• Dissolve

Antonyms

• Compress
• Tense

Etymology

The verb “decompress” comes from the Latin “de” meaning “down” and “compress” meaning “to press together”.

Usage Notes

In everyday language, decompress is often used to describe releasing physical or mental tension, while in technical contexts, it refers to the process of removing impurities or pressures from a medium.

Cultural References

“To decompress” has been used in various films and TV shows to describe characters releasing stress or tension.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• a breath of fresh air (to decompress)
• to let off steam (to decompress)

Related Words or Phrases

• Relaxation
• Stress relief
• Regulation

Collocations

• a decompression

Frequency of Use

The word “decompress” is commonly used in modern language, especially in contexts related to self-care, technology, and science.

Common Misspellings

• decomress
• decomprss
• dyecompress