Lexical Definition

‎θλῖψις‎ thlîpsis (thlip'-sis) pressure ^G:N-F
from ‎θλίβω‎

afflicted(-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

• pressure (literally or figuratively)

Abbott-Smith

θλίψις (LTr., θλῖψις), -εως, ἡ (< θλίβω), [in LXX for צָרָה, etc.;]
pressure (Arist.). In LXX and NT metaph., tribulation, affliction, distress: Mt 24:9, 21, 29, Mk 13:19, 24, Jo 16:21, Ac 7:11 11:19, Ro 12:12, II Co 1:4, 8 4:17 6:4 7:4 8:2, 13, Phl 4:14, II Th 1:6, Ja 1:27, Re 1:9 2:9, 22 7:14; c. ἀνάγκη (q.v.), I Th 3:7; στενοχωρία (which from the order of the words would appear to be the stronger term), Ro 2:9 8:35; διωγμός, Mt 13:21, Mk 4:17, II Th 1:4; θ. ἔχω, Jo 16:33, I Co 7:28, Re 2:10; ἔρχεσθαι ἐπί, Ac 7:11; ἐν θλίψει, I Th 1:6; pl., Ac 7:10 14:22 20:23, Ro 5:3, Eph 3:13, I Th 3:3, He 10:33; τ. Χριστοῦ, Col 1:24; θ. τῆς καρδίας, II Co 2:4; θ. ἐγείρειν, Phl 1:17.†
SYN.: ἀνάγκη, διωγμός, στενοχωρία (v. supr., and cf. Tr., Syn., § lv; Lft., Notes, 45).

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

θλῖψις, εως, ἡ,

pressure, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἀντέρεισις καὶ θ. [Refs 1st c.BC+]; of the pulse, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ὑστερικαὶ θ. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

__2 crushing, castration, πώλων [Refs]
__3 metaphorically, oppression, affliction, [LXX+1st c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.Gen.35.3 ☩ Acts.14.22}