/ krʌʃ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
to press or squeeze sth so hard that it is damaged or injured, or loses its shape :
The car was completely crushed under the truck.
They crush the olives with a heavy wooden press.
Several people were crushed to death in the accident.
2.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to push or press sb/sth into a small space :
Over twenty prisoners were crushed into a small dark cell.
3.
to break sth into small pieces or into a powder by pressing hard :
Add two cloves of crushed garlic.
4.
to become or make sth full of folds or lines
5.
to use violent methods to defeat people who are opposing you
SYN put down , quash :
The army was sent in to crush the rebellion.
6.
to destroy sb's confidence or happiness :
She felt completely crushed by the teacher's criticism.
■ noun
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] a crowd of people pressed close together in a small space :
a big crush in the theatre bar
I couldn't find a way through the crush.
2.
[ C ] ~ (on sb) a strong feeling of love, that usually does not last very long, that a young person has for sb older :
a schoolgirl crush
I had a huge crush on her.
3.
[ U ] a drink made from fruit juice
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French cruissir , gnash (teeth) or crack, of unknown origin.