Word Study
squeeze
CIDE DICTIONARY
squeeze, v. t. [OE. queisen, AS. cw, cw, cwīsan, of uncertain origin. The s- was probably prefixed through the influence of squash, v.t.].
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- Fig.: To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass; to crush. [1913 Webster]"In a civil war, people must expect to be crushed and squeezed toward the burden." [1913 Webster]
- To force, or cause to pass, by compression; often with out, through, etc.; as, to squeeze water through felt. [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- To compress; hug; pinch; gripe; crowd.
squeeze, v. i.
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. [1913 Webster]
squeeze, n.
- The act of one who squeezes; compression between bodies; pressure. [1913 Webster]
- A facsimile impression taken in some soft substance, as pulp, from an inscription on stone. [1913 Webster]
- The gradual closing of workings by the weight of the overlying strata. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
- Pressure or constraint used to force the making of a gift, concession, or the like; exaction; extortion; as, to put the squeeze on someone."One of the many “squeezes” imposed by the mandarins." [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
squeeze, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. a exert pressure on from opposite or all sides, esp. in order to extract moisture or reduce size. b compress with one's hand or between two bodies. c reduce the size of or alter the shape of by squeezing.
2 tr. (often foll. by out) extract (moisture) by squeezing.
3 a tr. force (a person or thing) into or through a small or narrow space. b intr. make one's way by squeezing. c tr. make (one's way) by squeezing.
4 tr. a harass by exactions; extort money etc. from. b constrain; bring pressure to bear on. c (usu. foll. by out of) obtain (money etc.) by extortion, entreaty, etc. d Bridge subject (a player) to a squeeze.
5 tr. press (a person's hand) with one's own as a sign of sympathy, affection, etc.
6 tr. (often foll. by out) produce with effort (squeezed out a tear).
--n.
1 an instance of squeezing; the state of being squeezed.
2 Brit. a close embrace.
3 a crowd or crowded state; a crush.
4 a small quantity produced by squeezing (a squeeze of lemon).
5 a sum of money extorted or exacted, esp. an illicit commission.
6 Econ. a restriction on borrowing, investment, etc., in a financial crisis.
7 an impression of a coin etc. taken by pressing damp paper, wax, etc., against it.
8 (in full squeeze play) a Bridge leading winning cards until an opponent is forced to discard an important card. b Baseball hitting a ball short to the infield to enable a runner on third base to start for home as soon as the ball is pitched.
--v.
1 tr. a exert pressure on from opposite or all sides, esp. in order to extract moisture or reduce size. b compress with one's hand or between two bodies. c reduce the size of or alter the shape of by squeezing.
2 tr. (often foll. by out) extract (moisture) by squeezing.
3 a tr. force (a person or thing) into or through a small or narrow space. b intr. make one's way by squeezing. c tr. make (one's way) by squeezing.
4 tr. a harass by exactions; extort money etc. from. b constrain; bring pressure to bear on. c (usu. foll. by out of) obtain (money etc.) by extortion, entreaty, etc. d Bridge subject (a player) to a squeeze.
5 tr. press (a person's hand) with one's own as a sign of sympathy, affection, etc.
6 tr. (often foll. by out) produce with effort (squeezed out a tear).
--n.
1 an instance of squeezing; the state of being squeezed.
2 Brit. a close embrace.
3 a crowd or crowded state; a crush.
4 a small quantity produced by squeezing (a squeeze of lemon).
5 a sum of money extorted or exacted, esp. an illicit commission.
6 Econ. a restriction on borrowing, investment, etc., in a financial crisis.
7 an impression of a coin etc. taken by pressing damp paper, wax, etc., against it.
8 (in full squeeze play) a Bridge leading winning cards until an opponent is forced to discard an important card. b Baseball hitting a ball short to the infield to enable a runner on third base to start for home as soon as the ball is pitched.
Idiom
put the squeeze on colloq. coerce or pressure (a person). squeeze bottle a flexible container whose contents are extracted by squeezing it. squeeze-box sl. an accordion or concertina.
Derivative
squeezable adj. squeezer n.
Etymology
earlier squise, intensive of obs. queise, of unkn. orig.
THESAURUS
squeeze
arrest, arrestation, arrestment, badger, bar, barricade, bear, bear against, bear down on, bear down upon, bear hard upon, bear hug, bind, blackmail, bleed, block, block up, blockade, blockage, blocking, bolt, boodle, booty, bosom, broad, check, chock, choke, choke off, clamp, clamping, clamping down, clasp, clench, clinch, clip, clogging, close, close off, close tight, close up, closing up, closure, clutch, compact, complication, compress, compression, concentrate, condense, congest, consolidate, constrict, constriction, contort, contract, cram, cramp, crowd, crunch, crush, debar, decoct, delay, densen, densify, detainment, detention, distill, distort, dog, doxy, embarrassing position, embarrassment, embosom, embrace, enfold, enfoldment, ensphere, essentialize, exact, express, extort, extract, fine how-do-you-do, fixation, fold, foot-dragging, force, force from, garble, get by, get one wrong, get through, get wrong, gloss, gouge, graft, grip, hampering, haul, hell to pay, high-pressure, hindering, hindrance, hobble, hold, holdback, holdup, hot goods, hot water, how-do-you-do, hug, imbroglio, impediment, influence, infuse, inhibition, interference, interruption, jam, lean on, let, levy blackmail, lock, loot, melt down, mess, milk, misapply, misapprehend, miscite, misconceive, misconstrue, misdeem, misexplain, misexplicate, misexpound, misinterpret, misjudge, misquote, misread, misrender, mistake, mistranslate, mistress, misunderstand, mix, moll, morass, negativism, nip, nuisance value, obstruct, obstruction, obstructionism, occlude, occlusion, opposition, pack, parlous straits, pass, perks, perquisite, pervert, pickings, pickle, pinch, plight, plunder, pork barrel, predicament, press, press out, pressure, pretty pass, pretty pickle, pretty predicament, prize, pry loose from, pry out, public till, public trough, push, put pressure on, quagmire, quicksand, ram, ram down, refine, rend, rend from, render, repression, resistance, restraint, restriction, retardation, retardment, rip, rip from, scrape, screw, setback, shake, shake down, shut off, shut out, shut tight, slough, snatch from, soak, solidify, spoil, spoils, spoils of office, spot, squab, squash, squeak by, squeak through, squeeze shut, squeezing, squish, stealings, steep, stew, sticky wicket, stifle, stolen goods, stop up, strain the sense, strait, straits, strangle, stranglehold, strangulate, stricture, stuff, suffocate, suppression, swag, swamp, sweetheart, sweetie, take, tear, tear from, tight spot, tight squeeze, tighten, tightening, tightrope, till, torture, tricky spot, tweak, twist the words, unholy mess, urge, wad up, wedge, wrench, wrench from, wrest, wring, wring from, wring outROGET THESAURUS
squeeze
Compulsion
VB compel, force, make, drive, coerce, constrain, enforce, necessitate, oblige, force upon, press, cram down the throat, thrust down the throat, force down the throat, say it must be done, make a point of, insist upon, take no denial, put down, dragoon, extort, wring from, squeeze, put on the squeeze, put on the screws, turn on the screw, drag into, bind, bind over, pin down, tie down, require, tax, put in force, commandeer, restrain.Contraction
VB become small, become smaller, lessen, decrease, grow less, dwindle, shrink, contract, narrow, shrivel, collapse, wither, lose flesh, wizen, fall away, waste, wane, ebb, decay, be smaller than, fall short of, not come up to, render smaller, lessen, diminish, contract, draw in, narrow, coarctate, boil down, constrict, constringe, condense, compress, squeeze, corrugate, crimp, crunch, crush, crumple up, warp, purse up, pack, squeeze, stow, pinch, tighten, strangle, cramp, dwarf, bedwarf, shorten, circumscribe, restrain, (subtraction) 38 abrade, pare, reduce, attenuate, rub down, scrape, file, file down, grind, grind down, chip, shave, shear, wear down, become small, become smaller, lessen, decrease, grow less, dwindle, shrink, contract, narrow, shrivel, collapse, wither, lose flesh, wizen, fall away, waste, wane, ebb, decay, be smaller than, fall short of, not come up to, render smaller, lessen, diminish, contract, draw in, narrow, coarctate, boil down, constrict, constringe, condense, compress, squeeze, corrugate, crimp, crunch, crush, crumple up, warp, purse up, pack, squeeze, stow, pinch, tighten, strangle, cramp, dwarf, bedwarf, shorten, circumscribe, restrain, (subtraction) 38 abrade, pare, reduce, attenuate, rub down, scrape, file, file down, grind, grind down, chip, shave, shear, wear down.Courtesy
N courtesy, respect, good manners, good behavior, good breeding, manners, politeness, bienseance, urbanity, comity, gentility, breeding, polish, presence, civility, civilization, amenity, suavity, good temper, good humor, amiability, easy temper, complacency, soft tongue, mansuetude, condescension, affability, complaisance, pr_evenance, amability, gallantry, pink of politeness, pink of courtesy, compliment, fair words, soft words, sweet words, honeyed phrases, ceremonial salutation, reception, presentation, introduction, accueil, greeting, recognition, welcome, abord, respects, devoir, regards, remembrances, kind regards, kind remembrances, love, best love, duty, empty encomium, flattering remark, hollow commendation, salaams, obeisance, bow, courtesy, curtsy, scrape, salaam, kotow, kowtow, bowing and scraping, kneeling, genuflection, obsequiousness, capping, shaking hands grip of the hand, embrace, hug, squeeze, accolade, loving cup, vin d'honneur, pledge, love token, kiss, buss, salute, mark of recognition, nod, nods and becks and wreathed smiles, valediction, condolence, courteous, polite, civil, mannerly, urbane, well-behaved, well- mannered, well-bred, well-brought up, good-mannered, polished, civilized, cultivated, refined, gentlemanlike, gallant, on one's good behavior, fine spoken, fair spoken, soft-spoken, honey-mouthed, honey- tongued, oily, bland, obliging, conciliatory, complaisant, complacent, obsequious, ingratiating, winning, gentle, mild, good-humored, cordial, gracious, affable, familiar, neighborly, diplomatic, tactful, politic, artful, courteously, with a good grace, with open arms, with outstretched arms, a bras ouverts, suaviter in modo, in good humor, Int, hail!, welcome!, well met!, ave!, all hail!, good day, good morrow!, Godspeed!, pax vobiscum!, may your shadow never be less!, Tien de plus estimable que la ceremonie, the very pink of courtesy.Density
VB be dense, become solid, render solid, solidify, solidate, concrete, set, take a set, consolidate, congeal, coagulate, curd, curdle, lopper, fix, clot, cake, candy, precipitate, deposit, cohere, crystallize, petrify, condense, thicken, gel, inspissate, incrassate, compress, squeeze, ram down, constipate.For further exploring for "squeeze" in Webster Dictionary Online
