squeeze (skwiːz
)
Definitions
verb (mainly tr)
- to grip or press firmly, esp so as to crush or distort; compress
- to crush or press (something) so as to extract (a liquid) ⇒
to squeeze the juice from an orange
to squeeze an orange
- to apply gentle pressure to, as in affection or reassurance ⇒
he squeezed her hand
- to push or force in a confined space ⇒
to squeeze six lettuces into one box
to squeeze through a crowd
- to hug closely
- to oppress with exacting demands, such as excessive taxes
- to exert pressure on (someone) in order to extort (something): to exert pressure on (someone) in order to extort (something): to squeeze money out of a victim by blackmail
- (intr) to yield under pressure
- to make an impression of (a coin, etc) in a soft substance
- bridge whist to lead a card that forces (opponents) to discard potentially winning cards
noun
- the act or an instance of squeezing or of being squeezed
- a hug or handclasp
- a crush of people in a confined space
- mainly British a condition of restricted credit imposed by a government to counteract price inflation
- an impression, esp of a coin, etc, made in a soft substance
- an amount extracted by squeezing ⇒
add a squeeze of lemon juice
- business any action taken by a trader or traders on a market that forces buyers to make purchases and prices to rise
- informal pressure brought to bear in order to extort something (esp in the phrase put the squeeze on)
- Also called squeeze playbridge whist a manoeuvre that forces opponents to discard potentially winning cards
- informal a person with whom one is having a romantic relationship
Alternative Forms
ˈsqueezable adjective ˈsqueezer noun Word Origin
C16: from Middle English queysen to press, from Old English cwӯsan
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
clutch,
press,
grip,
crush,
pinch,
cling to
squash,
nip,
compress,
clasp,
wring,
hold tight
enclasp,
=
cram,
press,
crowd,
force,
stuff,
pack,
jam,
thrust,
ram,
wedge,
jostle,
=
drop,
dash,
trickle,
bit,
shot,
touch,
taste,
trace,
hint,
nip,
