SQUEEZE

Pronunciation (US):

 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. squeeze (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

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

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"):

pinch; tweak (a squeeze with the fingers)

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

expulsion; extrusion (squeezing out by applying pressure)

Sense 2

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

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:

liquidity crisis; credit crunch; squeeze

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

economic condition; financial condition (the condition of finances)

Sense 3

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

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

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

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 or is loved)

Domain usage:

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

Sense 5

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A twisting squeeze

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

wring; squeeze

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)

Sense 6

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

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 play; squeeze

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)

Sense 7

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A tight or amorous embrace

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

hug; clinch; 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

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

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)

Sense 1

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

To compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

mash; squash; squeeze; crush; squelch

Context examples:

crush an aluminum can / 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

Sense 2

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

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 (extract (liquid) by squeezing or pressing)

squeeze out (cause to come out in a squirt)

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

Sense 3

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Squeeze like a wedge into a tight space

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

wedge; squeeze; force

Context example:

I squeezed myself into the corner

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

displace; move (cause to move, 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

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

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 examples:

She forced him to take a job in the city / He squeezed her for information

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

compel; obligate; oblige (force or compel 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

Sense 5

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Obtain by coercion or intimidation

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

extort; gouge; wring; rack; squeeze

Context examples:

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

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

Sense 6

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Press or force

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

thrust; stuff; shove; squeeze

Context examples:

Stuff money into an envelope / 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

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Squeeze tightly between the fingers

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

pinch; nip; tweet; twinge; twitch; squeeze

Context examples:

He pinched her behind / 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

Sense 8

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

hug; bosom; embrace; squeeze

Context examples:

Hug me, please / They embraced / 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

squeeze [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Squeeze or press together

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

constrict; compress; contract; compact; press; squeeze

Context examples:

she compressed her lips / 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; scrag (wring the neck of)

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

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

convulse (cause to contract)

convulse (contract involuntarily, as in a spasm)

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

astringe (constrict or bind or draw together)

prim (contract one's lips)

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

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something