SQUEEZE

squeeze

(noun) the act of forcing yourself (or being forced) into or through a restricted space; “getting through that small opening was a tight squeeze”

squeeze, squeezing

(noun) the act of gripping and pressing firmly; “he gave her cheek a playful squeeze”

hug, clinch, squeeze

(noun) a tight or amorous embrace; “come here and give me a big hug”

squeeze, wring

(noun) a twisting squeeze; “gave the wet cloth a wring”

squeeze

(noun) (slang) a person’s girlfriend or boyfriend; “she was his main squeeze”

squeeze

(noun) a situation in which increased costs cannot be passed on to the customer; “increased expenses put a squeeze on profits”

compress, constrict, squeeze, compact, contract, press

(verb) squeeze or press together; “she compressed her lips”; “the spasm contracted the muscle”

embrace, hug, bosom, squeeze

(verb) hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness; “Hug me, please”; “They embraced”; “He hugged her close to him”

squeeze

(verb) press firmly; “He squeezed my hand”

pinch, squeeze, twinge, tweet, nip, twitch

(verb) squeeze tightly between the fingers; “He pinched her behind”; “She squeezed the bottle”

wedge, squeeze, force

(verb) squeeze like a wedge into a tight space; “I squeezed myself into the corner”

squash, crush, squelch, mash, squeeze

(verb) to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition; “crush an aluminum can”; “squeeze a lemon”

thrust, stuff, shove, squeeze

(verb) press or force; “Stuff money into an envelope”; “She thrust the letter into his hand”

extort, squeeze, rack, gouge, wring

(verb) obtain by coercion or intimidation; “They extorted money from the executive by threatening to reveal his past to the company boss”; “They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him”

coerce, hale, squeeze, pressure, force

(verb) to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means; “She forced him to take a job in the city”; “He squeezed her for information”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

squeeze (third-person singular simple present squeezes, present participle squeezing, simple past and past participle squeezed)

(transitive) To apply pressure to from two or more sides at once.

(transitive) To embrace closely; to give a tight hug to.

(ambitransitive) To fit into a tight place.

(transitive) To remove something with difficulty, or apparent difficulty.

(transitive) To put in a difficult position by presenting two or more choices.

(transitive, figurative) To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass.

• L'Estrange

(transitive, baseball) To attempt to score a runner from third by bunting.

Synonyms

• (to apply pressure to from two or more sides at once): compress, condense; see also compress

Noun

squeeze (plural squeezes)

A close or tight fit.

(figuratively) A difficult position.

A hug or other affectionate grasp.

(slang) A romantic partner.

(slang) An illicit alcoholic drink made by squeezing Sterno through cheesecloth, etc, and mixing the result with fruit juice.

(baseball) The act of bunting in an attempt to score a runner from third.

(card games) A play that forces an opponent to discard a card that gives up one or more tricks.

(caving) A traversal of a narrow passage.

(epigraphy) An impression of an inscription formed by pressing wet paper onto the surface and peeling off when dry.

(mining) The gradual closing of workings by the weight of the overlying strata.

(dated) A bribe or fee paid to a middleman, especially in China; the practice of requiring such a bribe or fee.

• A. R. Colquhoun

Source: Wiktionary


Squeeze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squeezed; p. pr. & vb. n. Squeezing.] Etym: [OE. queisen, AS. cwesan, cwysan, cwisan, of uncertain origin. The s- was probably prefixed through the influence of squash, v.t.]

1. To press between two bodies; to press together closely; to compress; often, to compress so as to expel juice, moisture, etc.; as, to squeeze an orange with the fingers; to squeeze the hand in friendship.

2. Fig.: To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass; to crush. In a civil war, people must expect to be crushed and squeezed toward the burden. L'Estrange.

3. To force, or cause to pass, by compression; often with out, through, etc.; as, to squeeze water through felt.

Syn.

– To compress; hug; pinch; gripe; crowd.

Squeeze, v. i.

Definition: To press; to urge one's way, or to pass, by pressing; to crowd;

– often with through, into, etc.; as, to squeeze hard to get through a crowd.

Squeeze, n.

1. The act of one who squeezes; compression between bodies; pressure.

2. A facsimile impression taken in some soft substance, as pulp, from an inscription on stone.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

1 May 2024

ABOUND

(verb) be in a state of movement or action; “The room abounded with screaming children”; “The garden bristled with toddlers”


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