- squeeze
- verb1》 firmly press from opposite or all sides, typically with the fingers.↘extract (liquid or a soft substance) from something by squeezing.2》 (squeeze in/into/through) manage to get into or through (a restricted space).↘(squeeze someone/thing in) manage to find time for someone or something.3》 (usu. squeeze something out of/from) obtain from someone with difficulty.↘informal pressurize (someone) to supply something.↘(squeeze someone/thing out) force someone or something out of an activity or post.↘have a damaging or restricting effect on: the economy is being squeezed by foreign debt repayments.↘Bridge force (an opponent) to discard a guarding or potentially winning card.4》 (squeeze something off) informal shoot a round or shot from a gun.↘take a photograph.noun1》 an act of squeezing or the state of being squeezed.↘dated a crowded social gathering.2》 a hug.3》 a small amount of liquid extracted by squeezing.4》 a strong financial demand or pressure.↘informal money illegally extorted or exacted from someone.5》 a moulding or cast of an object, or a copy of a design, obtained by pressing a pliable substance round or over it.6》 (often main squeeze) N. Amer. informal a person's girlfriend or boyfriend.7》 Bridge a tactic that forces an opponent to discard an important card.8》 (also squeeze play) Baseball an act of 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.Phrasesput the squeeze on informal coerce or pressurize.Derivativessqueezable adjectivesqueezer nounOriginC16: from earlier squise, from obs. queise, of unknown origin.
English new terms dictionary. 2014.