re·press (rĭ-prěs') v.
re·pressed, re·press·ing, re·press·es
v.
tr.
To hold back by an act of volition: couldn't repress a smirk.
To put down by force, usually before total control has been lost; quell: repress a rebellion.
Psychology To exclude (painful or disturbing memories, for example) automatically or unconsciously from the conscious mind.
Biology To block (transcription of a gene) by combination of a protein to an operator gene.
v.
intr. To take repressive action.
[Middle English repressen, from Latin reprimere, repress- : re-, re- + premere, to press; see per-4 in Indo-European roots.] re·press'i·bil'i·ty n., re·press'i·ble adj.
(rĭ-prěs') 