a cloth pad or dressing (with or without medication) applied firmly to some part of the body (to relieve discomfort or reduce fever)
"The nurse gently placed a cold compress on my forehead to help bring down the high temperature."
A multiply folded piece of cloth, a pouch of ice etc., used to apply to a patient's skin, cover the dressing of wounds, and placed with the aid of a bandage to apply pressure on an injury.
"The nurse carefully wrapped the compress around his sprained ankle to help reduce the swelling."
To make smaller; to press or squeeze together, or to make something occupy a smaller space or volume.
"The old mattress was so heavy that we had to compress it into a tight roll before putting it in the car trunk."