Definition: forcing

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Force \Force\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forced; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Forcing.] [OF. forcier, F. forcer, fr. LL. forciare,
   fortiare. See Force, n.]
   1. To constrain to do or to forbear, by the exertion of a
      power not resistible; to compel by physical, moral, or
      intellectual means; to coerce; as, masters force slaves to
      labor.

   2. To compel, as by strength of evidence; as, to force
      conviction on the mind.

   3. To do violence to; to overpower, or to compel by violence
      to one;s will; especially, to ravish; to violate; to
      commit rape upon.

            To force their monarch and insult the court.
                                                  --Dryden.

            I should have forced thee soon wish other arms.
                                                  --Milton.

            To force a spotless virgin's chastity. --Shak.

   4. To obtain or win by strength; to take by violence or
      struggle; specifically, to capture by assault; to storm,
      as a fortress.

   5. To impel, drive, wrest, extort, get, etc., by main
      strength or violence; -- with a following adverb, as
      along, away, from, into, through, out, etc.

            It stuck so fast, so deeply buried lay That scarce
            the victor forced the steel away.     --Dryden.

            To force the tyrant from his seat by war. --Sahk.

            Ethelbert ordered that none should be forced into
            religion.                             --Fuller.

   6. To put in force; to cause to be executed; to make binding;
      to enforce. [Obs.]

            What can the church force more?       --J. Webster.

   7. To exert to the utmost; to urge; hence, to strain; to urge
      to excessive, unnatural, or untimely action; to produce by
      unnatural effort; as, to force a consient or metaphor; to
      force a laugh; to force fruits.

            High on a mounting wave my head I bore, Forcing my
            strength, and gathering to the shore. --Dryden.

   8. (Whist) To compel (an adversary or partner) to trump a
      trick by leading a suit of which he has none.

   9. To provide with forces; to re["e]nforce; to strengthen by
      soldiers; to man; to garrison. [Obs.] --Shak.

   10. To allow the force of; to value; to care for. [Obs.]

             For me, I force not argument a straw. --Shak.

   Syn: To compel; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce;
        drive; press; impel.

Forcing \For"cing\, n.
   1. The accomplishing of any purpose violently, precipitately,
      prematurely, or with unusual expedition.

   2. (Gardening) The art of raising plants, flowers, and fruits
      at an earlier season than the natural one, as in a hitbed
      or by the use of artificial heat.

   Forcing bed or pit, a plant bed having an under layer of
      fermenting manure, the fermentation yielding bottom heat
      for forcing plants; a hotbed.

   Forcing engine, a fire engine.

   Forcing fit (Mech.), a tight fit, as of one part into a
      hole in another part, which makes it necessary to use
      considerable force in putting the two parts together.

   Forcing house, a greenhouse for the forcing of plants,
      fruit trees, etc.

   Forcing machine, a powerful press for putting together or
      separating two parts that are fitted tightly one into
      another, as for forcing a crank on a shaft, or for drawing
      off a car wheel from the axle.

   Forcing pump. See Force pump
      (b) .