Squeezing

squeeze  (skwz)

v. squeezed, squeez·ing, squeez·es

v.tr.

1. To press hard on or together; compress.

2. To press gently, as in affection: squeezed her hand.

3. To exert pressure on, as by way of extracting liquid: squeeze an orange.

4. To extract by or as if by applying pressure: squeeze juice from a lemon; squeezed a confession out of a suspect.

5. To extract by dishonest means; extort.

6. To pressure or intimidate (someone) to comply with a demand, as to make an extortion payment.

7. To obtain room for by pressure; cram: squeezed her books into the briefcase.

8. To manage to find time or space for.

9. Games To force (an opponent) to use a potentially winning card in a trick he or she cannot take in bridge.

10. Baseball To cause (a run or base runner) to score on a squeeze play.

v.intr.

1. To give way under pressure.

2. To exert pressure.

3. To force one's way: squeeze through a crowd; squeeze into a tight space.

n.

1. The act or an instance of squeezing.

2. An amount squeezed out: a squeeze of lemon.

3. A handclasp or brief embrace.

4. A group crowded together; a crush.

5. Informal A squeeze play.

6. Financial pressure caused by shortages or narrowing economic margins.

7. Pressure or intimidation to comply with a demand, as to make an extortion payment.

8. Games A forced discard of a potentially winning card in bridge.

9. Slang One's primary romantic partner or sweetheart.

Phrasal Verbs:

squeeze off

To fire (a round of bullets) by squeezing the trigger.

squeeze through/by

To manage narrowly to pass, win, or survive.

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[Probably alteration of obsolete quease, to press, from Middle English queisen, from Old English cwsan.]

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squeeza·ble adj.

squeezer n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

squeezing - the act of gripping and pressing firmly; "he gave her cheek a playful squeeze" squeeze compressing, compression - applying pressure tweak, pinch - a squeeze with the fingers expression - the act of forcing something out by squeezing or pressing; "the expression of milk from her breast" expulsion, extrusion - squeezing out by applying pressure; "an unexpected extrusion of toothpaste from the bottom of the tube"; "the expulsion of pus from the pimple"