squeezing

squeeze

S0684900 (skwēz)v. squeezed, squeez·ing, squeez·es v.tr.1. a. To press hard on or together; compress: squeezed the balloon until it popped.b. To press gently, as in affection: squeezed her hand.c. To exert pressure on, as by way of extracting liquid: squeeze an orange.2. a. To extract by applying pressure: squeeze juice from a lemon.b. To extract or gain by intimidation or other pressure: squeezed information out of the suspect.c. To pressure or intimidate (someone) to comply with a demand, as to make an extortion payment.3. a. To obtain room for by pressure; cram: squeezed her clothes into the suitcase.b. To manage to find time or space for: I asked if she might squeeze me into her busy schedule. Can we squeeze another chair in at your table?4. Games To force (an opponent) to use a potentially winning card in a trick he or she cannot take in bridge.5. Baseball a. To cause (a run or base runner) to score on a squeeze play.b. To call as balls pitches thrown by (a pitcher) near the edges of the strike zone. Used of an umpire.v.intr.1. To give way under pressure: The rubber duck squeaks when it squeezes.2. To exert pressure: squeezed until my hand hurt.3. To force one's way: squeeze through a crowd; squeeze into a tight space.n.1. a. The act or an instance of squeezing.b. A handclasp or brief embrace.2. An amount squeezed out: a squeeze of lemon.3. A group crowded together; a crush.4. Financial pressure caused by shortages or narrowing economic margins.5. Pressure or intimidation to comply with a demand, as to make an extortion payment: thugs who put the squeeze on shopkeepers.6. Games A forced discard of a potentially winning card in bridge.7. Baseball A squeeze play.8. Slang One's primary romantic partner or sweetheart.Phrasal Verbs: squeeze off To fire (a round of bullets) by squeezing the trigger. squeeze through (or 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 cwȳsan.]

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squeez′a·ble adj.squeez′er n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

squeezing - the act of gripping and pressing firmly; "he gave her cheek a playful squeeze"squeezecompressing, compression - applying pressuretweak, pinch - a squeeze with the fingersexpression - 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"