/ skwɜːt; NAmE skwɜːrt/ verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to force liquid, gas, etc. in a thin fast stream through a narrow opening; to be forced out of a narrow opening in this way
SYN spurt :
[ vn ]
The snake can squirt poison from a distance of a metre.
I desperately squirted water on the flames.
[ v ]
When I cut the lemon, juice squirted in my eye.
2.
[ vn ] squirt sb/sth (with sth) to hit sb/sth with a stream of water, gas, etc.
SYN spray :
The children were squirting each other with water from the hose.
He squirted a water pistol at me (= made the water come out of it) .
■ noun
1.
a thin, fast stream of liquid that comes out of a small opening
SYN spray :
a squirt of perfume
2.
( informal , disapproving ) a word used to refer to a short, young or unimportant person that you do not like or that you find annoying
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (as a verb): imitative.