crush

views updated May 17 2018

crush / krəsh/ • v. [tr.] press or squeeze (someone or something) with force or violence, typically causing serious damage or injury. ∎  reduce (something) to a powder or pulp by exerting strong pressure on it. ∎  crease or crumple (cloth or paper). ∎  (of a government or state) violently subdue (opposition or a rebellion). ∎  bring about a feeling of overwhelming disappointment or embarrassment in (someone).• n. 1. [usu. in sing.] a crowd of people pressed closely together, esp. in an enclosed space.2. inf. a brief but intense infatuation for someone, esp. someone unattainable or inappropriate: she did have a crush on Dr. Russell.3. a drink made from the juice of pressed fruit: lemon crush. DERIVATIVES: crush·a·ble adj.crush·er n.crush·ing·ly adv.

crush

views updated May 21 2018

crush †crash, clash; compress with violence XIV; break down the power of XVI. — AN. crussir, corussier, OF. croissir, cruissir gnash (the teeth), crash, crack :- Rom. *cruscīre, of unkn. orig.

Crush

views updated May 29 2018

Crush

a vast crowd of persons or things, 1806; a crowded social gathering, 1832.

Example: a crush of carts and chairs and coaches, 1840.