SQUEEZE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does squeeze mean? 

• SQUEEZE (noun)
  The noun SQUEEZE has 8 senses:

1. the act of gripping and pressing firmly

2. a state in which there is a short supply of cash to lend to businesses and consumers and interest rates are high

3. a situation in which increased costs cannot be passed on to the customer

4. (slang) a person's girlfriend or boyfriend

5. a twisting squeeze

6. an aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power

7. a tight or amorous embrace

8. the act of forcing yourself (or being forced) into or through a restricted space

  Familiarity information: SQUEEZE used as a noun is common.

• SQUEEZE (verb)
  The verb SQUEEZE has 9 senses:

1. to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition

2. press firmly

3. squeeze like a wedge into a tight space

4. to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means

5. obtain by coercion or intimidation

6. press or force

7. squeeze tightly between the fingers

8. hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness

9. squeeze or press together

  Familiarity information: SQUEEZE used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SQUEEZE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of gripping and pressing firmly

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

squeeze; squeezing

Context example:

he gave her cheek a playful squeeze

Hypernyms ("squeeze" is a kind of...):

compressing; compression (applying pressure)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "squeeze"):

expression (the act of forcing something out by squeezing or pressing)

pinch; tweak (a squeeze with the fingers)

expulsion; extrusion (squeezing out by applying pressure)

Derivation:

squeeze (squeeze tightly between the fingers)

squeeze (press firmly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A state in which there is a short supply of cash to lend to businesses and consumers and interest rates are high

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

credit crunch; liquidity crisis; squeeze

Hypernyms ("squeeze" is a kind of...):

financial condition (the condition of (corporate or personal) finances)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A situation in which increased costs cannot be passed on to the customer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Context example:

increased expenses put a squeeze on profits

Hypernyms ("squeeze" is a kind of...):

loss; red; red ink (the amount by which the cost of a business exceeds its revenue)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(slang) a person's girlfriend or boyfriend

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Context example:

she was his main squeeze

Hypernyms ("squeeze" is a kind of...):

lover (a person who loves someone or is loved by someone)

Domain usage:

argot; cant; jargon; lingo; patois; slang; vernacular (a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves))

Sense 5

Meaning:

A twisting squeeze

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

squeeze; wring

Context example:

gave the wet cloth a wring

Hypernyms ("squeeze" is a kind of...):

motion; movement (a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something)

Derivation:

squeeze (squeeze tightly between the fingers)

squeeze (to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition)

Sense 6

Meaning:

An aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

power play; squeeze; squeeze play

Context example:

she laughed at this sexual power play and walked away

Hypernyms ("squeeze" is a kind of...):

attempt; effort; endeavor; endeavour; try (earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something)

Derivation:

squeeze (obtain by coercion or intimidation)

squeeze (to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A tight or amorous embrace

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

clinch; hug; squeeze

Context example:

come here and give me a big hug

Hypernyms ("squeeze" is a kind of...):

embrace; embracement; embracing (the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection))

Sense 8

Meaning:

The act of forcing yourself (or being forced) into or through a restricted space

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

getting through that small opening was a tight squeeze

Hypernyms ("squeeze" is a kind of...):

constriction (the action or process of compressing)

• SQUEEZE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

To compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

crush; mash; squash; squeeze; squelch

Context example:

squeeze a lemon

Hypernyms (to "squeeze" is one way to...):

press (exert pressure or force to or upon)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "squeeze"):

wring (twist, squeeze, or compress in order to extract liquid)

stamp (crush or grind with a heavy instrument)

steamroller (crush with a steamroller as if to level)

tread (crush as if by treading on)

telescope (crush together or collapse)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

squeeze (a twisting squeeze)

squeezer (a kitchen utensil for squeezing juice from fruit)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Press firmly

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

He squeezed my hand

Hypernyms (to "squeeze" is one way to...):

press (exert pressure or force to or upon)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "squeeze"):

clench (squeeze together tightly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam cannot squeeze Sue

Also:

squeeze out (cause to come out in a squirt)

squeeze out (form or shape by forcing through an opening)

squeeze out (extract (liquid) by squeezing or pressing)

Derivation:

squeeze; squeezing (the act of gripping and pressing firmly)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Squeeze like a wedge into a tight space

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

force; squeeze; wedge

Context example:

I squeezed myself into the corner

Hypernyms (to "squeeze" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "squeeze"):

impact (press or wedge together; pack together)

compact; compress; pack together (make more compact by or as if by pressing)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 4

Meaning:

To cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

coerce; force; hale; pressure; squeeze

Context example:

He squeezed her for information

Hypernyms (to "squeeze" is one way to...):

compel; obligate; oblige (force somebody to do something)

Cause:

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "squeeze"):

turn up the heat; turn up the pressure (apply great or increased pressure)

drive (to compel or force or urge relentlessly or exert coercive pressure on, or motivate strongly)

bludgeon (overcome or coerce as if by using a heavy club)

steamroll; steamroller (bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure)

squeeze for (squeeze someone for money, information, etc.)

dragoon; railroad; sandbag (compel by coercion, threats, or crude means)

terrorise; terrorize (coerce by violence or with threats)

bring oneself (cause to undertake a certain action, usually used in the negative)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something

Derivation:

squeeze (an aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Obtain by coercion or intimidation

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

extort; gouge; rack; squeeze; wring

Context example:

They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him

Hypernyms (to "squeeze" is one way to...):

fleece; gazump; hook; overcharge; pluck; plume; rob; soak; surcharge (rip off; ask an unreasonable price)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "squeeze"):

bleed (get or extort (money or other possessions) from someone)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something from somebody

Derivation:

squeeze (an aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Press or force

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

shove; squeeze; stuff; thrust

Context example:

She thrust the letter into his hand

Hypernyms (to "squeeze" is one way to...):

force; push (move with force)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Sentence example:

They squeeze the books into the box

Sense 7

Meaning:

Squeeze tightly between the fingers

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

nip; pinch; squeeze; tweet; twinge; twitch

Context example:

She squeezed the bottle

Hypernyms (to "squeeze" is one way to...):

grip (hold fast or firmly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "squeeze"):

tweak (pinch or squeeze sharply)

goose (pinch in the buttocks)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

squeeze (the act of gripping and pressing firmly)

squeeze (a twisting squeeze)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

bosom; embrace; hug; squeeze

Context example:

He hugged her close to him

Hypernyms (to "squeeze" is one way to...):

clasp (hold firmly and tightly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "squeeze"):

clinch (embrace amorously)

cuddle (hold (a person or thing) close, as for affection, comfort, or warmth)

interlock; lock (become engaged or intermeshed with one another)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 9

Meaning:

Squeeze or press together

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

compact; compress; constrict; contract; press; squeeze

Context example:

the spasm contracted the muscle

Hypernyms (to "squeeze" is one way to...):

tighten (become tight or tighter)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "squeeze"):

choke; strangle (constrict (someone's) throat and keep from breathing)

prim (contract one's lips)

astringe (constrict or bind or draw together)

strangulate (constrict a hollow organ or vessel so as to stop the flow of blood or air)

convulse (contract involuntarily, as in a spasm)

convulse (cause to contract)

bear down; overbear (contract the abdominal muscles during childbirth to ease delivery)

choke; fret; gag (be too tight; rub or press)

choke; scrag (wring the neck of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

And he had done nothing but put his hand upon my arm and squeeze.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“No, Mr. Traddles,” replied Uriah, resuming his official seat, and squeezing his bony hands, laid palm to palm between his bony knees.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Now, Mars is about to join Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto, making a total of four planets all squeezed into your second house of earned income

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

“I thought I had squeezed all the juice out of it, but I see there was a little over,” he said.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It measures physiological changes in the breast when the breast is gently squeezed by an air filled bag.

(Dynamic Optical Breast Imaging, NCI Thesaurus)

I found out where he was through a sailor man that had met him in London, and down I went to squeeze him.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Everybody was shortly in motion for tea, and they must squeeze out like the rest.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

So the silly girl cut off her great toe, and thus squeezed on the shoe, and went to the king’s son.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

The liquid produced by squeezing or crushing fruit.

(Fruit Juice, NCI Thesaurus)

She apprehended some mischief would happen to me from rude vulgar folks, who might squeeze me to death, or break one of my limbs by taking me in their hands.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)