squeezing
Variant of squeeze
squeeze (skwēz)
transitive verb squeezed, squeezing squeez′·ing
- 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
Etymology: 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
intransitive verb
- to yield or give way to pressure a wet sponge squeezes easily
- to exert pressure
- to force one's way by pushing or pressing (in, out, through, etc.)
noun
- a squeezing or being squeezed; hard or close pressure
- a close embrace; hug
- a firm pressing or grasping of another's hand in one's own
- the state of being closely pressed or packed; crush
- a period or situation marked by scarcity, hardship, insecurity, etc.
- a facsimile impression made by pressing a soft substance onto something, as a coin or inscription
- a quantity of something extracted by squeezing
- Informal pressure or influence brought to bear, as in extortionused esp. in the phrase ☆ put the squeeze on
- ☆ squeeze play
- Slang a sweetheart or lover: used esp. in the expression main squeeze
Related Forms:
- squeezable squeez′·able adjective
- squeezer squeez′er noun
squeeze through
or squeeze byWebster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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