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apertar

[ə.pɛɾ.ˈtaɾ]
verb
to tighten, to squeeze, to press
1. to make tight or tighter; to fasten firmly
Tighten the bolt with a wrench.
Aperte o parafuso com uma chave inglesa.
2. to squeeze or compress something with pressure
She squeezed his hand affectionately.
Ela apertou sua mão carinhosamente.
3. to press or push down on something
Press the button to start the machine.
Aperte o botão para ligar a máquina.
4. to constrict or become tight; to fit snugly
These shoes are too tight.
Estes sapatos apertam muito.
5. to make financial or time constraints stricter
The deadline is tight.
O prazo está apertado.
Synonyms
comprimirpressionarapertaragarrarestreitarconstringir
Antonyms
soltarafrouxardesapertarrelaxarexpandir

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
apertar
standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
apertar
commonly used; may be colloquially shortened in casual speech
São Paulo
apertar
standard usage; common in business and formal contexts
Portugal
apertar
standard usage; identical to Brazilian Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

apertar o cinto (to tighten one's belt; to economize)
apertar as mãos (to shake hands)
apertar o cerco (to tighten the noose; to increase pressure)
apertar os dentes (to grit one's teeth)
estar com tempo apertado (to be pressed for time)
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