nounnoun

der Druck, ¨-e

pressure

Es ist eine Kraft, die auf eine Fläche wirkt und Dinge zusammendrücken oder bewegen kann.

Definition & meaning

Druck has several related meanings:

Pressure: A force applied to a surface or object. It can also mean pressure or strain in a figurative sense, such as pressure from work or expectations.
Printing: The process of putting text or images onto paper or another surface; depending on context, it can also mean a printed work or print.
A print or impression: An image or mark produced by printing.

Grammar & Word origin

Druck is a masculine noun: der Druck. Its plural is die Drucke, especially when referring to different prints or printed works. In the sense of pressure, it is usually used in the singular.

It is related to the verb drücken , meaning “to press” or “to push.” The noun developed from the idea of pressing or applying force.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms vary by meaning:

Belastung means a burden or strain, often emphasizing the difficulty something causes rather than the pressure itself.
Anspannung refers especially to tension or stress, often psychological.
Zwang means compulsion or coercion, a stronger sense than ordinary pressure.
Pressung refers to pressing or compression, usually in a technical or physical context.
Abdruck can mean an impression or print, but it usually emphasizes the resulting mark or image rather than the printing process.

There is no single direct antonym for Druck in all its meanings. For pressure as a burden, Entlastung means relief, while Entspannung means relaxation. In physics, Gegendruck is an opposing pressure, not the absence of pressure. The printing sense has no direct antonym.