decompress

UK: /ˌdiːkəmˈprɛs/ US: (dē′kəm pres′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•com•press  (dē′kəm pres′), v.t. 

1. to cause to undergo decompression.

v.i. 

2. to undergo decompression.
3. Informal Terms to relax;
   unwind.

• translation of French décomprimer. See de-, compress 1900–05

de′com•pres′sive, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

decompress / ˌdiːkəmˈprɛs/ verb

1. to relieve (a substance) of pressure or (of a substance) to be relieved of pressure
2. to return (a diver, caisson worker, etc) to a condition of normal atmospheric pressure gradually from a condition of increased pressure or (of a diver, etc) to be returned to such a condition
3. (intransitive) to relax after stressful activity

ˌdecomˈpression noun