 |
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Forcing \For"cing\, noun
1. The accomplishing of any purpose violently, precipitately, prematurely, or with unusual expedition.
2. (Gardening) The art of raising plants, flowers, and fruits at an earlier season than the natural one, as in a hitbed or by the use of artificial heat.
{Forcing bed} or {Forcing pit}, a plant bed having an under layer of fermenting manure, the fermentation yielding bottom heat for forcing plants; a hotbed.
{Forcing engine}, a fire engine.
{Forcing fit} (Mech.), a tight fit, as of one part into a hole in another part, which makes it necessary to use considerable force in putting the two parts together.
{Forcing house}, a greenhouse for the forcing of plants, fruit trees, etc.
{Forcing machine}, a powerful press for putting together or separating two parts that are fitted tightly one into another, as for forcing a crank on a shaft, or for drawing off a car wheel from the axle.
{Forcing pump}. See {Force pump} (b) .
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Force \Force\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Forced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Forcing}.] [OF. forcier, F. forcer, fr. LL. forciare, fortiare. See {Force}, noun]
1. To constrain to do or to forbear, by the exertion of a power not resistible; to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means; to coerce; as, masters force slaves to labor.
2. To compel, as by strength of evidence; as, to force conviction on the mind.
3. To do violence to; to overpower, or to compel by violence to one's will; especially, to ravish; to violate; to commit rape upon.
To force their monarch and insult the court. --Dryden.
I should have forced thee soon wish other arms. --Milton.
To force a spotless virgin's chastity. --Shak.
4. To obtain, overcome, or win by strength; to take by violence or struggle; specifically, to capture by assault; to storm, as a fortress; as, to force the castle; to force a lock.
5. To impel, drive, wrest, extort, get, etc., by main strength or violence; -- with a following adverb, as along, away, from, into, through, out, etc.
It stuck so fast, so deeply buried lay That scarce the victor forced the steel away. --Dryden.
To force the tyrant from his seat by war. --Sahk.
Ethelbert ordered that none should be forced into religion. --Fuller.
6. To put in force; to cause to be executed; to make binding; to enforce. [Obs.]
What can the church force more? --J. Webster.
7. To exert to the utmost; to urge; hence, to strain; to urge to excessive, unnatural, or untimely action; to produce by unnatural effort; as, to force a conceit or metaphor; to force a laugh; to force fruits.
High on a mounting wave my head I bore, Forcing my strength, and gathering to the shore. --Dryden.
8. (Whist) To compel (an adversary or partner) to trump a trick by leading a suit of which he has none.
9. To provide with forces; to re["e]nforce; to strengthen by soldiers; to man; to garrison. [Obs.] --Shak.
10. To allow the force of; to value; to care for. [Obs.]
For me, I force not argument a straw. --Shak.
Syn: To compel; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce; drive; press; impel.
 |
Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |