crush

I. verb Etymology: Middle English crusshen, from Anglo-French croissir, croistre, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Low German krossen to crush Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. a. to squeeze or force by pressure so as to alter or destroy structure <

crush grapes

> b. to squeeze together into a mass 2. hug, embrace 3. to reduce to particles by pounding or grinding <

crush rock

> 4. a. to suppress or overwhelm as if by pressure or weight b. to oppress or burden grievously <

crushed by debt

> c. to subdue completely <

the rebellion was crushed

> 5. crowd, push <

were crushed into the elevator

> 6. archaic drink intransitive verb 1. obsolete crash 2. to become crushed 3. to advance with or as if with crushing • crushable adjective • crusher noun • crushingly adverb II. noun Date: 1599 1. an act of crushing 2. the quantity of material crushed 3. a. a crowding together (as of people) b. crowd, mob; especially a crowd of people pressing against one another 4. an intense and usually passing infatuation <

have a crush on someone

>; also the object of infatuation Synonyms: see crowd • crushproof adjective