crush

crush

1. To press between opposing bodies so as to break or injure.
2. To break, pound, or grind (stone or ore, for example) into small fragments or powder.
3. To put down; subdue: crushed the rebellion.
4. To overwhelm or oppress severely: spirits that had been crushed by rejection and failure.
5. To crumple or rumple: crushed the freshly ironed shirt.
6. To hug, especially with great force.
7. To press upon, shove, or crowd.
8. To extract or obtain by pressing or squeezing: crush juice from a grape.
9. Archaic To drink; quaff.

1. To be or become crushed.
2. To proceed or move by crowding or pressing.

1. The act of crushing; extreme pressure.
2. The state of being crushed.
3. A great crowd: a crush of spectators.
4. A substance prepared by or as if by crushing, especially a fruit drink: orange crush.
5. Informal
   a. A usually temporary infatuation.
   b. One who is the object of such an infatuation.
6. A decisive or critical moment or situation.
7. The process of stamping or crushing grapes for wine.

Origin: Middle English crushen, from Old French croissir, of Germanic origin.

Related Forms:

• crushable crushˈa·ble adjective

• crusher crushˈer noun

• crushˈproofˌ (-pro͞ofˌ) adjective