Hi, I remember once learning the word "depress" in third grade in my advanced class as in "to depress a button". I've only ever heard "press a button", does anyone still use "depress" in the context of to press down on?
Hi, I remember once learning the word "depress" in third grade in my advanced class as in "to depress a button". I've only ever heard "press a button", does anyone still use "depress" in the context of to press down on?
16 Comments
pwnicholson@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 222d
Sure. Absolutely correct for pressing down on a button or something similar
For other stuff, it's not common, but I think it's technically correct.
Depending on what it is, "compress" might be a better term than "depress", though.
BlameThePeacock@lemmy.ca · 12 pts · 222d
Tongue depressor is a common example of this use case.
CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 222d
Also many car manuals tell you to depress the brake to start the vehicle.
umt@lemmynsfw.com · 9 pts · 222d
Yes.
SarahFromOz@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 222d
It's weird because the words desynchronize, de-stress, decriminalize mean un-synchronize, un-stress, un-criminalize
So it would seem like depress should mean un-press (let go of the button).
But depress = press !
edgemaster72@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 222d
It's flammable/inflammable all over again
NachBarcelona@piefed.social · 1 pts · 222d
The de- prefix in Latin also means down, downward.
rljkeimig@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 222d
I think I have seen this more commonly in technical documents than everyday English, maybe there is a reason for that or maybe it just sounds better in that context.
y0kai@anarchist.nexus · 3 pts · 222d
Just remember that depressing a button is not the same thing as making a button sad sometimes
ccunning@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 222d
Exactly. Depression is NOT just sadness, but bigger
FriendOfDeSoto@startrek.website · 3 pts · 222d
I've recently read it on a hotel key card in the instructions: insert key card and depress lever.
Screen_Shatter@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 222d
You can press, depress, re-press, unpress, and compress. Are they all different, are they the same? Hard to say but if you ever write a manual or procedure try to pick one and stick with it.
FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 222d
I think it's used for when something is kept lowered for a bit - so yes, some buttons, but most notably Jam Lids and Levers. Many buttons spring back up at you so those are just presses or taps
FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 222d
See it used for "jam lids" (any jar lid actually, lol) or other packaging because those things can be complex to tell if you're opening it correctly, so by saying "depress" it tells you to press but then simultaneously describes what happens as it is pressed (it goes down) so you know if you're getting anywhere in the process. This is why it's been observed more in technical documents, as rljkeimig notes.
Sendpicsofsandwiches@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 222d
Yes, generally either as you said for "depressing" something, or when referring to a valley or a void in something as a "depression".
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 1 pts · 222d
Darkcoffee@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 222d
I think it used to be one of the original meanings of the word lol.
14th_cylon@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 222d