þrýst

Þrýst is a word in Icelandic that primarily functions as a verb form derived from the verb þrýsta, meaning to press, push, or apply pressure. In standard usage, it denotes the act of exerting force on a surface or of urging action. The infinitive form is þrýsta, and the past tense is typically þrýsti; other forms are produced through regular conjugation. The form þrýst is commonly encountered as a present-tense finite form used when the subject performs the action of pressing.

The word is used in a wide range of contexts—from practical actions such as pressing a button or latch to figurative senses, such as pressuring someone to decide. In technical or mechanical writing, þrýst appears as the verb, while the noun for physical pressure is þrýstingur.

The initial letter Þ (thorn) marks the word as part of the Icelandic orthographic tradition and represents a voiceless dental fricative, similar to the th in thing. The term is related to other North Germanic verbs for pressing, including Danish trykke and Swedish trycka, reflecting a common semantic root across the family.

See also: Icelandic language, Germanic languages, pressure.