squash

[ skwosh, skwawsh ]

/ skwɒʃ, skwɔʃ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR squash ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to press into a flat mass or pulp; crush: She squashed the flower under her heel.

to suppress or put down; quash.

to silence or disconcert (someone), as with a crushing retort or emotional or psychological pressure.

to press forcibly against or cram into a small space; squeeze.

verb (used without object)

to be pressed into a flat mass or pulp.

(of a soft, heavy body) to fall heavily.

to make a splashing sound; splash.

to be capable of being or likely to be squashed: Tomatoes squash easily.

to squeeze or crowd; crush.

noun

the act or sound of squashing.

the fact of squashing or of being squashed.

something squashed or crushed.

something soft and easily crushed.

Also called squash racquets. a game for two or four persons, similar to racquets but played on a smaller court and with a racket having a round head and a long handle.

Also called squash tennis. a game for two persons, resembling squash racquets except that the ball is larger and livelier and the racket is shaped like a tennis racket.

British. a beverage made from fruit juice and soda water: lemon squash.

Origin of squash

1555–65; < Middle French esquasser < Vulgar Latin *exquassāre. See ex-¹, quash

SYNONYMS FOR squash

2, 3 quell, crush, repress.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR squash ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM squash

squash·er, noun un·squashed, adjective

Words nearby squash

squaretail, squaretoed, squarish, squark, squarrose, squash, squash bug, squash ladder, squash vine borer, squash-blossom, squashable

Definition for squash (2 of 2)

squash ²

[ skwosh, skwawsh ]

/ skwɒʃ, skwɔʃ /

noun, plural squash·es, (especially collectively) squash.

the fruit of any of various vinelike, tendril-bearing plants belonging to the genus Curcurbita, of the gourd family, as C. moschata or C. pepo, used as a vegetable.

any of these plants.

Origin of squash

1635–45, Americanism; < Narragansett (E spelling) askútasquash (plural)

Example sentences from the Web for squash

The salmon is presented atop a mound of sautéed vegetables: mushrooms, peppers, squash, onions, leafy greens, and herbs.

Spaghetti for Breakfast?! Not So Crazy at This Idaho Farm Café |Jane & Michael Stern |August 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
There is increasing evidence that Assad is working with ISIS to squash the Free Syrian Army.

America's Allies Are Funding ISIS |Josh Rogin |June 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Headache—Take the rinds of a couple of lemons and squash it into a paste.

Use These 15 Home Remedies Based On Ayurveda To Cure Menstrual Cramps, Hangovers, and Indigestion |Ari Meisel |January 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
All this testing is serving to squash creativity and the excitement of learning.

A Teach for America Alum On How Testing Is Hurting Our Kids |Jonathan Sheehan |October 9, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

In addition to Central Park, they have new raised bed gardens on the rooftop with basil, sage, thyme, tomatoes, and squash.

Honey Harvest at the Waldorf Astoria’s Beehives |Josh Dzieza |August 3, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
My woodchuck invented that sort of thing all over again on Hubbard squash vines.

Old Plymouth Trails |Winthrop Packard
Later, when Chirpy Cricket met her, he asked her if she had seen her cousin who was spending the summer among the squash vines.

The Tale of Mrs. Ladybug |Arthur Scott Bailey
The Squash Maiden drew about her a rich green blanket, into which she had woven many flaunting gold trumpet-shaped flowers.

Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children |Mabel Powers
We got ham and eggs and lettuce and milk and coffee and squash pie.

The Girl in the Mirror |Elizabeth Garver Jordan
Wash and peel two large summer squash, cut in small pieces and remove the seeds, cover with boiling water and cook until tender.

The Golden Age Cook Book |Henrietta Latham Dwight

British Dictionary definitions for squash (1 of 2)

squash ¹

/ (skwɒʃ) /

verb

to press or squeeze or be pressed or squeezed in or down so as to crush, distort, or pulp

(tr) to suppress or overcome

(tr) to humiliate or crush (a person), esp with a disconcerting retort

(intr) to make a sucking, splashing, or squelching sound

(often foll by in or into) to enter or insert in a confined space

noun

British a still drink made from fruit juice or fruit syrup diluted with water

a crush, esp of people in a confined space

something that is squashed

the act or sound of squashing or the state of being squashed

Also called: squash rackets, squash racquets a game for two or four players played in an enclosed court with a small rubber ball and light long-handled rackets. The ball may be hit against any of the walls but must hit the facing wall at a point above a horizontal line See also rackets

Also called: squash tennis a similar game played with larger rackets and a larger pneumatic ball

Derived forms of squash

squasher, noun

Word Origin for squash

C16: from Old French esquasser, from Vulgar Latin exquassāre (unattested), from Latin ex- 1 + quassāre to shatter

British Dictionary definitions for squash (2 of 2)

squash ²

/ (skwɒʃ) /

noun plural squashes or squash US and Canadian

any of various marrow-like cucurbitaceous plants of the genus Cucurbita, esp C. pepo and C. moschata, the fruits of which have a hard rind surrounding edible flesh

the fruit of any of these plants, eaten as a vegetable

Word Origin for squash

C17: from Narraganset askutasquash, literally: green vegetable eaten green

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

squash

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of squash

SYNONYMS FOR squash

OTHER WORDS FROM squash

Words nearby squash

Definition for squash (2 of 2)

noun, plural squash·es, (especially collectively) squash.

Origin of squash

Example sentences from the Web for squash

British Dictionary definitions for squash (1 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of squash

Word Origin for squash

British Dictionary definitions for squash (2 of 2)

noun plural squashes or squash US and Canadian

Word Origin for squash

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

squash

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of squash

SYNONYMS FOR squash

OTHER WORDS FROM squash

Words nearby squash

Definition for squash (2 of 2)

noun, plural squash·es, (especially collectively) squash.

Origin of squash

Words related to squash

Example sentences from the Web for squash

British Dictionary definitions for squash (1 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of squash

Word Origin for squash

British Dictionary definitions for squash (2 of 2)

noun plural squashes or squash US and Canadian

Word Origin for squash