Definition: squeeze

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

squeeze
     n 1: the act of gripping and pressing firmly; "he gave her cheek
          a playful squeeze" [syn: squeezing]
     2: a twisting squeeze: "gave the wet cloth a wring" [syn: wring]
     3: an aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the
        concentration or manipulation of power [syn: power play,
         squeeze play]
     v 1: to compress with violence, out of natural shape or
          condition; "crush an aluminum can"; "squeeze a lemon"
          [syn: squash, crush, squelch, mash]
     2: press firmly; "He squeezed my hand"
     3: squeeze like a wedge into a tight space; "I squeezed myself
        into the corner" [syn: wedge, force]
     4: press or force; "Stuff money into an envelope"; "She thrust
        the letter into his hand" [syn: thrust, stuff, shove]
     5: squeeze tightly between the fingers; "He pinched her
        behind"; "She squeezed the bottle" [syn: pinch, vellicate,
         twinge, tweet, nip, twitch]
     6: hug, usually with fondness; "Hug me, please"; "They
        embraced" [syn: embrace, hug, bosom]
     7: squeeze or press together; "she compressed her lips" [syn: compress,
         constrict, compact, contract, press]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Squeeze \Squeeze\, n.
   1. (Mining) The gradual closing of workings by the weight of
      the overlying strata.

   2. Pressure or constraint used to force the making of a gift,
      concession, or the like; exaction; extortion. [Colloq.]

            One of the many ``squeezes'' imposed by the
            mandarins.                            --A. R.
                                                  Colquhoun.
Squeeze \Squeeze\, v. i.
   To press; to urge one's way, or to pass, by pressing; to
   crowd; -- often with through, into, etc.; as, to squeeze hard
   to get through a crowd.
Squeeze \Squeeze\, n.
   1. The act of one who squeezes; compression between bodies;
      pressure.

   2. A facsimile impression taken in some soft substance, as
      pulp, from an inscription on stone.
Squeeze \Squeeze\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squeezed; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Squeezing.] [OE. queisen, AS. cw[=e]san, cw[=y]san,
   cw[=i]san, of uncertain origin. The s- was probably prefixed
   through the influence of squash, v.t.]
   1. To press between two bodies; to press together closely; to
      compress; often, to compress so as to expel juice,
      moisture, etc.; as, to squeeze an orange with the fingers;
      to squeeze the hand in friendship.

   2. Fig.: To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to
      harass; to crush.

            In a civil war, people must expect to be crushed and
            squeezed toward the burden.           --L'Estrange.

   3. To force, or cause to pass, by compression; often with
      out, through, etc.; as, to squeeze water through felt.

   Syn: To compress; hug; pinch; gripe; crowd.