1. Shaped or decorated with patterns in relief formed by hammering and pressing on the reverse side. Used especially of metal.
2. Raised in relief.

1. A design in relief.
2. The technique of hammering and pressing designs in relief.

[French, past participle of repousser, to push back, from Old French : re-, re- + pousser, to push (from Latin pulsāre, to beat, frequentative of pellere, to push; see repel).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.