Push , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pushed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Pushing.] [OE. possen, pussen, F. pousser, fr. L. pulsare, v. intens. fr. pellere, pulsum, to beat, knock, push. See Pulse a beating, and cf. Pursy.]

1. To press against with force; to drive or impel by pressure; to endeavor to drive by steady pressure, without striking; -- opposed to draw.

Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat. Milton.

2. To thrust the points of the horns against; to gore.

If the ox shall push a manservant or maidservant, . . . the ox shall be stoned. Ex. xxi. 32.

3. To press or urge forward; to drive; to push an objection too far. " To push his fortune." Dryden.

Ambition pushes the soul to such actions as are apt to procure honor to the actor. Spectator.

We are pushed for an answer. Swift.

4. To bear hard upon; to perplex; to embarrass.

5. To importune; to press with solicitation; to tease.

To push down, to overthrow by pushing or impulse.

Push , n.

1. A thrust with a pointed instrument, or with the end of a thing.

2. Any thrust. pressure, impulse, or force, or force applied; a shove; as, to give the ball the first push.

3. An assault or attack; an effort; an attempt; hence, the time or occasion for action.

Exact reformation is not perfected at the first push. Milton.

"When it comes to the push, tis no more than talk." L Estrange.

4. The faculty of overcoming obstacles; aggressive energy; as, he has push, or he has no push.

[Colloq.]

Syn. -- See Thrust.

Push (?), n. [Probably F. poche. See Pouch.] A pustule; a pimple. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Bacon.

Push , v. i.

1. To make a thrust; to shove; as, to push with the horns or with a sword. Shak.

2. To make an advance, attack, or effort; to be energetic; as, a man must push in order to succeed.

At the time of the end shall the kind of the south push at him and the king of the north shall come against him. Dan. xi. 40.

War seemed asleep for nine long years; at length Both sides resolved to push, we tried our strength. Dryden.

3. To burst pot, as a bud or shoot.

To push on, to drive or urge forward; to hasten.

The rider pushed on at a rapid pace. Sir W. Scott.

Push , n. A crowd; a company or clique of associates; a gang. [Slang]

-- Webster's unabridged 1913