squeeze
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From earlier squize, squise (whence also English dialectal squizzen and squeege), first attested around 1600, probably an alteration of quease (which is attested since 1550), from Middle English queisen (“to squeeze”), from Old English cwēsan, cwȳsan (“to crush, squeeze”), of unknown origin, perhaps imitative (compare Swedish qväsa, kväsa (“to squeeze, bruise, crush; quell”), Dutch kwetsen (“to injure, hurt”), German quetschen (“to squeeze”)). Compare also Old Provençal esquichar (“to press, squeeze”). The slang expression "to put the squeeze on (someone or something)", meaning "to exert influence", is from 1711. The baseball term "squeeze play" is first recorded 1905. "Main squeeze" ("most important person") is attested from 1896, the specific meaning "one's sweetheart, lover" is attested by 1980.
Pronunciation[edit]
Verb[edit]
squeeze (third-person singular simple present squeezes, present participle squeezing, simple past and past participle squeezed)
- (transitive) To apply pressure to from two or more sides at once
- I squeezed the ball between my hands.
- Please don't squeeze the toothpaste tube in the middle.
- 1922, Virginia Woolf, Jacob's Room Chapter 1
- "Over there—by the rock," Steele muttered, with his brush between his teeth, squeezing out raw sienna, and keeping his eyes fixed on Betty Flanders's back.
- (transitive, intransitive) To fit into a tight place
- I managed to squeeze the car into that parking space.
- Can you squeeze through that gap?
- 2010 December 29, Sam Sheringham, “Liverpool 0 - 1 Wolverhampton”, BBC:
- 1908, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
- (transitive) To remove something with difficulty, or apparent difficulty
- He squeezed some money out of his wallet.
- (transitive) To put in a difficult position by presenting two or more choices
- I'm being squeezed between my job and my volunteer work.
- 2013 May 23, Sarah Lyall, "British Leader’s Liberal Turn Sets Off a Rebellion in His Party," New York Times (retrieved 29 May 2013):
- At a time when Mr. Cameron is being squeezed from both sides — from the right by members of his own party and by the anti-immigrant, anti-Europe U.K. Independence Party, and from the left by his Liberal Democrat coalition partners — the move seemed uncharacteristically clunky.
- (transitive, figuratively) To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass.
- L'Estrange
- In a civil war, people must expect to be crushed and squeezed toward the burden.
- L'Estrange
- (transitive, baseball) To attempt to score a runner from third by bunting
- Jones squeezed in Smith with a perfect bunt.
Derived terms[edit]
terms derived from the verb "squeeze"
Translations[edit]
to apply pressure to from two or more sides at once
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to fit into a tight place
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to remove something with difficulty, or apparent difficulty
to put in a difficult position by presenting two or more choices
baseball: to attempt to score a runner from third by bunting
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
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Noun[edit]
squeeze (plural squeezes)
- A difficult position
- I'm in a tight squeeze right now when it comes to my free time.
- A traversal of a narrow passage
- It was a tight squeeze, but I got through to the next section of the cave.
- A hug or other affectionate grasp
- a gentle squeeze on the arm
- (slang) A romantic partner
- I want to be your main squeeze
- (baseball) The act of bunting in an attempt to score a runner from third
- The game ended in exciting fashion with a failed squeeze.
- (epigraphy) An impression of an inscription formed by pressing wet paper onto the surface and peeling off when dry.
- The light not being good enough for photography, I took a squeeze of the stone.
- (card games) A play that forces an opponent to discard a card that gives up one or more tricks.
- (archaic) A bribe or fee paid to a middleman, especially in China.
Translations[edit]
difficult position
a traversal a narrow passage
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hug or other affectionate grasp
slang: a romantic partner
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baseball: the act of bunting in an attempt to score a runner from third
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epigraphy: an impression of an inscription
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
