■ verb
1》 firmly press from opposite or all sides, typically with the fingers.
↘extract (liquid or a soft substance) from something by squeezing.
2》 ( ~ in/into/through ) manage to get into or through (a restricted space).
↘( ~ someone/thing in ) manage to find time for someone or something.
3》 (usu. ~ something out of/from ) obtain from someone with difficulty.
↘ informal pressurize (someone) to supply something.
↘( ~ someone/thing out ) force someone or something out of an activity or post.
↘have a damaging or restricting effect on: the economy is being ~d by foreign debt repayments.
↘ Bridge force (an opponent) to discard a guarding or potentially winning card.
4》 ( ~ something off ) informal shoot a round or shot from a gun.
↘take a photograph.
■ noun
1》 an act of squeezing or the state of being ~d.
↘ dated a crowded social gathering.
2》 a hug.
3》 a small amount of liquid extracted by squeezing.
4》 a strong financial demand or pressure.
↘ informal money illegally extorted or exacted from someone.
5》 a moulding or cast of an object, or a copy of a design, obtained by pressing a pliable substance round or over it.
6》 (often main ~ ) N. Amer. informal a person's girlfriend or boyfriend.
7》 Bridge a tactic that forces an opponent to discard an important card.
8》 (also ~ play ) Baseball an act of hitting a ball short to the infield to enable a runner on third base to start for home as soon as the ball is pitched.
Phrases
put the ~ on informal coerce or pressurize.
Derivatives
squeezable adjective
~r noun
Origin
C16: from earlier squise , from obs. queise , of unknown origin.