transitive verb squeezed, squeezing
- to press hard or closely; exert pressure on, esp. from two or more sides; compress
- to press in order to extract liquid, juice, etc.: to squeeze oranges
- to get, bring forth, or extract by pressure: to squeeze water from a sponge
- to force (into, out, through, etc.) by or as by pressing
- to get, extract, or extort by force or unfair means
- to oppress with exactions, burdensome taxes, etc.
- to put pressure or bring influence to bear upon (someone) to do a certain thing, as to pay money, etc.
- to embrace closely; hug
- ☆ Baseball to score (a run) or cause (a runner) to score by a squeeze play
- ☆ Bridge to force (an opponent) to discard a potentially winning card
Origin:
intens. of ME queisen < OE cwysan, to squeeze, dash against, bruise, akin to Goth quistjan, to destroy < IE base *gweye-, to overpower > Sans jināti, (he) conquers