Counterpressure

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Force applied against an original pressure to balance or oppose it
2. Resistance created by pushing back against an applied force or stress
3. An opposing pressure that counteracts or reduces the effect of another

Etymology: "Counterpressure" is a plain compound: "counter-" added to "pressure," with the sense of an opposing push. The prefix "counter-" comes from Latin "contra," meaning "against" or "opposite," which reached English through Old French as "contre." The word "pressure" comes from Latin "pressura," a noun built on "premere," "to press," and entered English through Old French, where it carried the same basic idea of squeezing or pushing. Combined, the two parts describe exactly what the word denotes: a force that presses back against another force. Engineers, physicists and everyday speakers use it for the resistance that stops one pressure from simply overwhelming another, whether in a fluid, a mechanism or a body of people. The meaning follows directly from the parts, so there is no surprising shift to report.

Synonyms: backpressure, resistance, opposition, counterforce, pushback

Antonyms: pressure, support, assistance, help, aid