squeeze meaning and definition

SQUEEZE noun

Definition of squeeze (noun)

1. the act of gripping and pressing firmly
   • "he gave her cheek a playful squeeze"
   • synonyms: squeezing
2. a state in which there is a short supply of cash to lend to businesses and consumers and interest rates are high
   • synonyms: credit crunch, liquidity crisis
3. a situation in which increased costs cannot be passed on to the customer
   • "increased expenses put a squeeze on profits"
4. (slang) a person's girlfriend or boyfriend
   • "she was his main squeeze"
5. a twisting squeeze
   • "gave the wet cloth a wring"
   • synonyms: wring
6. an aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power
   • "she laughed at this sexual power play and walked away"
   • synonyms: power play, squeeze play
7. a tight or amorous embrace
   • "come here and give me a big hug"
   • synonyms: clinch, hug
8. the act of forcing yourself (or being forced) into or through a restricted space
   • "getting through that small opening was a tight squeeze"

SQUEEZE verb

Definition of squeeze (verb)

1. to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition
   • "crush an aluminum can"; "squeeze a lemon"
   • synonyms: crush, mash, squash, squelch
2. press firmly
   • "He squeezed my hand"
3. squeeze like a wedge into a tight space
   • "I squeezed myself into the corner"
   • synonyms: force, wedge
4. to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means
   • "She forced him to take a job in the city"; "He squeezed her for information"
   • synonyms: coerce, force, hale, pressure
5. obtain by coercion or intimidation
   • "They extorted money from the executive by threatening to reveal his past to the company boss"; "They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him"
   • synonyms: extort, gouge, rack, wring
6. press or force
   • "Stuff money into an envelope"; "She thrust the letter into his hand"
   • synonyms: shove, stuff, thrust
7. squeeze tightly between the fingers
   • "He pinched her behind"; "She squeezed the bottle"
   • synonyms: nip, pinch, tweet, twinge, twitch
8. squeeze (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
   • "Hug me, please"; "They embraced"; "He hugged her close to him"
   • synonyms: bosom, embrace, hug
9. squeeze or press together
   • "she compressed her lips"; "the spasm contracted the muscle"
   • synonyms: compact, compress, constrict, contract, press