Pressa

Pressa is a term used in Italian and related languages to denote a device that applies pressure to shape, cut, or form materials. In Italian technical vocabulary, pressa refers to various kinds of presses, including pressa idraulica (hydraulic press), pressa meccanica (mechanical press), pressa a vite (screw press), and pressa pneumatica (pneumatic press). These machines are used in metalworking, stamping, forming, and powder compaction, as well as woodworking and plastics processing, where the pressing action shapes or compresses materials.

In culinary contexts, the concept of pressing is also present, and Italian usage may describe appliances that apply pressure and heat to food, such as a pressa per panini (panini press).

In English, press is the standard term; pressa appears chiefly in Italian-language technical literature, brand names, or product descriptions. Etymology: from Latin pressa, the feminine participle of premere “to press.” The word is common in Italian engineering manuals and shop-floor talk, serving as the general label for devices that transform materials by pressure. See also press, hydraulic press, and stamping press for related concepts.