v. & n.
v.tr. 1 compress with force or violence, so as to break, bruise, etc. 2 reduce to powder by pressure. 3 crease or crumple by rough handling. 4 defeat or subdue completely (crushed by my reply).
n. 1 an act of crushing. 2 a crowded mass of people. 3 a drink made from the juice of crushed fruit. 4 colloq. a (usu. foll. by on) a (usu. passing) infatuation. b the object of an infatuation (who's the latest crush?). crush bar a place in a theatre for audiences to buy drinks in the intervals. crush barrier a barrier, esp. a temporary one, for restraining a crowd. crushable adj. crusher n. crushingly adv.
[ ME f. AF crussir, corussier, OF croissir, cruissir, gnash (teeth), crack, f. Rmc ]