High"-pres`sure (?; 135), a.

1.

Having or involving a pressure greatly exceeding that of the atmosphere; -- said of steam, air, water, etc., and of steam, air, or hydraulic engines, water wheels, etc.

2.

Fig.: Urgent; intense; as, a high-pressure business or social life.

High-pressure engine, an engine in which steam at high pressure is used. It may be either a condensing or a noncondensing engine. Formerly the term was used only of the latter. See Steam engine.

© Webster 1913.