squeeze

[skweez] verb, squeezed, squeez·ing, noun
verb (used with object)
1.
to press forcibly together; compress.
2.
to apply pressure to in order to extract juice, sap, or the like: to squeeze an orange.
3.
to force out, extract, or procure by pressure: to squeeze juice from an orange.
4.
to thrust forcibly; force by pressure; cram: to squeeze three suits into a small suitcase.
5.
to fit into a small or crowded space or timespan: The doctor will try to squeeze you in between appointments.
6.
to enclose (another person's hand, arm, etc.) in one's hand and apply pressure as a token of affection, friendship, sympathy, or the like: His father squeezed his hand and wished him luck.
7.
to give (someone) a hug.
8.
to threaten, intimidate, harass, or oppress (a person) in order to obtain a favor, money, or an advantageous attitude or action.
9.
to cause financial hardship to: manufacturers squeezed by high tariffs.
10.
to obtain a facsimile impression of.
11.
to cause to merge, as two or more lines of traffic into fewer lanes.
12.
Baseball.
a.
to enable (a runner on third base) to score on a squeeze play (often followed by in ): He squeezed him in with a perfect bunt.
b.
to score (a run) in this way (often followed by in ): The Dodgers squeezed in a run in the eighth inning.
13.
Bridge. to force (an opponent) to play a potentially winning card on a trick he or she cannot win.
verb (used without object)
14.
to exert a compressing force.
15.
to force a way through some narrow or crowded place (usually followed by through, in, out, etc.).
16.
to merge or come together.
00:10
Squeeze is one of our favorite verbs.
So is subtilize. Does it mean:
to spend time idly; loaf.
to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
noun
17.
the act or fact of squeezing or the fact of being squeezed.
18.
a clasping of one's hand around another's hand, arm, etc., as a token of affection, friendship, sympathy, or the like.
19.
a hug or close embrace.
20.
a troubled financial condition, especially caused by a shortage or restriction, as of credit or funds.
21.
a small quantity or amount of anything obtained by squeezing.
22.
squeak ( def 3 ).
23.
Slang. a sweetheart: his main squeeze.
24.
a facsimile impression of an inscription or the like, obtained by pressing some plastic substance over or around it.
25.
squeeze play.
26.
Bridge. a play or circumstance whereby an opponent is forced to waste or discard a potentially winning card.
27.
an act of threatening, intimidating, harassing, or oppressing a person or persons to obtain a favor, money, or an advantageous attitude or action: gangsters putting the squeeze on small businesses.
28.
money or a favor obtained in such a way.
Origin:
1590–1600; perhaps variant of obsolete squize (Old English cwȳsan) to squeeze, with initial s by false division of words in sandhi

Related forms
squeez·er, noun
squeez·ing·ly, adverb
in·ter·squeeze, verb (used with object), in·ter·squeezed, in·ter·squeez·ing.
un·squeezed, adjective

Synonyms
4. crowd, pack, jam, stuff.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To squeeze
Collins
World English Dictionary
squeeze (skwiːz) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb
1.  to grip or press firmly, esp so as to crush or distort; compress
2.  to crush or press (something) so as to extract (a liquid): to squeeze the juice from an orange; to squeeze an orange
3.  to apply gentle pressure to, as in affection or reassurance: he squeezed her hand
4.  to push or force in a confined space: to squeeze six lettuces into one box; to squeeze through a crowd
5.  to hug closely
6.  to oppress with exacting demands, such as excessive taxes
7.  to exert pressure on (someone) in order to extort (something): to squeeze money out of a victim by blackmail
8.  (intr) to yield under pressure
9.  to make an impression of (a coin, etc) in a soft substance
10.  bridge, whist to lead a card that forces (opponents) to discard potentially winning cards
 
—n
11.  the act or an instance of squeezing or of being squeezed
12.  a hug or handclasp
13.  a crush of people in a confined space
14.  chiefly (Brit) a condition of restricted credit imposed by a government to counteract price inflation
15.  an impression, esp of a coin, etc, made in a soft substance
16.  an amount extracted by squeezing: add a squeeze of lemon juice
17.  commerce any action taken by a trader or traders on a market that forces buyers to make purchases and prices to rise
18.  informal pressure brought to bear in order to extort something (esp in the phrase put the squeeze on)
19.  bridge, whist Also called: squeeze play a manoeuvre that forces opponents to discard potentially winning cards
20.  informal a person with whom one is having a romantic relationship
 
[C16: from Middle English queysen to press, from Old English cwӯsan]
 
'squeezable
 
—adj
 
'squeezer
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

squeeze
c.1600, probably an alteration of quease (c.1550), from O.E. cwysan "to squeeze," of unknown origin, perhaps imitative (cf. Ger. quetschen "to squeeze"). Slang expression to put the squeeze on (someone or something) "exert influence" is from 1711. Baseball squeeze play first recorded 1905. Main squeeze
"most important person" is attested from 1896; meaning "one's sweetheart, lover" is attested by 1980.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

squeeze definition


  1. n.
    liquor. (Streets. See also grape(s).) : Let's stop on the way and get some squeeze.
  2. tv.
    to put pressure on someone. : The mob began to squeeze Bart for money.
  3. n.
    a tight situation; a situation where pressure is felt. : When the squeeze is over, we'll be able to get squared away.
  4. n.
    one's lover. (See also main squeeze.) : I'll see if my squeeze wants to go.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

squeeze

In addition to the idioms beginning with squeeze, also see main squeeze; put the arm (squeeze) on; tight squeeze.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
First, that as you squeeze the bottle the pressure increases and the volume of
  trapped air decreases.
Squeeze a lemon over them, using your fingers to coat any exposed parts of the
  fruit.
However, some private-equity firms are under pressure to squeeze more money out
  of their investments, and quickly.
Lacking a skeleton and gas bladders, an octopus can pretty much squeeze itself
  into the smallest of crevices.
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT