compresse

Compresse is a term used in Italian with two main, context-dependent meanings: medicinal tablets and wound-care dressings. In pharmacology, compresse is the plural of compressa, the Italian word for a solid dosage form that contains an active pharmaceutical ingredient and excipients. These tablets are produced by compressing powdered ingredients and may be coated or scored for easier administration. Variants include compressa effervescente (effervescent tablet) and film-coated compressa. The term appears on packaging and prescriptions in Italian-speaking regions.

In medical and first-aid contexts, compresse can also refer to a compress, a soft pad made of cloth, gauze, or similar material applied to a wound to protect, absorb, or deliver heat or cold. Such compresse can be dry or moistened with antiseptics, analgesics, or other agents, and are used in settings ranging from home care to clinical environments. A cold compress (compressa fredda) or a warm compress (compressa calda) illustrates the non-pharmaceutical usage of the term.

Because compresse covers distinct senses, clarity depends on context. In Italian, accompanying adjectives such as medicinale, fredda, or calda help distinguish the sense. The word thus functions as a linguistic intersection between pharmacy and wound care, reflecting its Latin root related to being pressed or compacted.

See also: tablet, dosage form; wound dressing; first aid.