crush

—crushable, adj. —crushability, n. —crushably, adv. —crusher, n.

/krush/, v.t.

1. to press or squeeze with a force that destroys or deforms.

2. to squeeze or pound into small fragments or particles, as ore, stone, etc.

3. to force out by pressing or squeezing; extract: to crush cottonseeds in order to produce oil.

4. to rumple; wrinkle; crease.

5. to smooth or flatten by pressure: to crush leather.

6. to hug or embrace forcibly or strongly: He crushed her in his arms.

7. to destroy, subdue, or suppress utterly: to crush a revolt.

8. to overwhelm with confusion, chagrin, or humiliation, as by argumentation or a slighting action or remark; squelch.

9. to oppress grievously.

10. Archaic. to finish drinking (wine, ale, etc.).

v.i.

11. to become crushed.

12. to advance with crushing; press or crowd forcibly.

n.

13. the act of crushing; state of being crushed.

14. a great crowd: a crush of shoppers.

15. Informal.

a. an intense but usually short-lived infatuation.

b. the object of such an infatuation: Who is your latest crush?

[1300-50; ME crus-chen < MF cruisir < Gmc; cf. OSw krusa, krosa, MLG krossen to crush]

Syn. 1. crumple, rumple. 2. pulverize, powder, mash, crumble. See break. 7. quell, overcome, quash.

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