squash

[ skwosh, skwawsh ]

/ skwɒʃ, skwɔʃ /

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See synonyms for: squash / squashed / squashing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to press into a flat mass or pulp; crush: She squashed the flower under her heel.

to suppress or put down; quash.

to silence or disconcert (someone), as with a crushing retort or emotional or psychological pressure.

to press forcibly against or cram into a small space; squeeze.

verb (used without object)

to be pressed into a flat mass or pulp.

(of a soft, heavy body) to fall heavily.

to make one's way with a splashing sound; splash.

to be capable of being or likely to be squashed: Tomatoes squash easily.

to squeeze or crowd; crush.

noun

the act or sound of squashing.

the fact of squashing or of being squashed.

something squashed or crushed.

something soft and easily crushed.

Also called squash racquets. a game for two or four persons, similar to racquets but played on a smaller court and with a racket having a round head and a long handle.

Also called squash tennis. a game for two persons, resembling squash racquets except that the ball is larger and livelier and the racket is shaped like a tennis racket.

British. a beverage made from fruit juice and soda water: lemon squash.

OTHER WORDS FOR squash

2 quell, crush, repress.

See synonyms for squash on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of squash

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English squachen, squatche “destroy, smash,” from Old French esquacher, esquasser, from Vulgar Latin exquassāre. (unrecorded), equivalent to ex- intensive prefix + quassāre “to shake”; see ex-¹, quash

OTHER WORDS FROM squash

squasher, nounun·squashed, adjective

Other definitions for squash (2 of 2)

squash²

[ skwosh, skwawsh ]

/ skwɒʃ, skwɔʃ /

noun, plural squash·es, (especially collectively) squash.

the fruit of any of various vinelike, tendril-bearing plants belonging to the genus Curcurbita, of the gourd family, as C. moschata or C. pepo, used as a vegetable.

any of these plants.

Origin of squash

An Americanism dating back to 1635–45; from Narragansett (English spelling) askútasquash (plural)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use squash in a sentence

We liked this best with small kabocha squash, but you can use a variety of small squash for visual impact.
Vegetarian and vegan main dishes to anchor your Thanksgiving menu|Becky Krystal, Kari Sonde|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Remove the foil and push the squash and carrots together in the center of the pan.
This vegetarian Thanksgiving is a one-pan feast: Stuffed squash with broccolini and carrots|Joe Yonan|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
Arrange the squash on a large rimmed baking sheet, leaving as much space among the halves as possible.
This vegetarian Thanksgiving is a one-pan feast: Stuffed squash with broccolini and carrots|Joe Yonan|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
How to appreciate spaghetti squash without always pretending it’s pastaLet’s take tempeh.
This vegan Bolognese is full of familiar, comforting flavors|Joe Yonan|November 8, 2020|Washington Post

Savage took a close look at the stems, leaves and pumpkins and then compared them to those from other large squashes.
Here’s how giant pumpkins get so big|Bethany Brookshire|October 28, 2020|Science News For Students
Hakeemullah squashed that rumor when his tape that announced the Times Square attack was released.
Pakistani Taliban Leader Hakeemullah Mehsud Killed In U.S. Drone Strike|Bill Roggio|November 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Suspicion squashed, Brodie began dreaming the dream of dating Martha.
Meet Martha Stewart’s Internet Soulmate|Abby Haglage|May 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He refused to budge, and Anne retreated further from public view squashed by his bullying and domineering manner.
The Fight Over America’s Entrance to WWII|Sandra McElwaine|April 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A brief recovery around 2006 was pretty much squashed by the financial crisis.
Why a BA is Now a Ticket to A Job in a Coffee Shop|Megan McArdle|March 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But in 2009, McGillis squashed that urban legend in an interview with the San Diego Gay and Lesbian News.
Whitney Houston: Anatomy of a Lesbian Rumor|Tricia Romano|February 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
She's very pretty, but towards the end of the evening she looked rather like a squashed tomato, I thought.
Happy House|Betsey Riddle, Freifrau von Hutten zum Stolzenberg
An' squashed 'em flat—an' picked them up—an' packed 'em in my trunk!
With the Colors|Everard Jack Appleton
We climbed the trees and cut our names, we sucked the sap of the box elder and squashed poke berries for war paint.
Bill's School and Mine|William Suddards Franklin
We shall have to protect them, they being now British subjects, and when we have squashed the Zulus, the Boers will turn on us.
The Luck of Gerard Ridgeley|Bertram Mitford
The food Katy had fixed was wonderful, though rather squashed on account of all the costumes being on top of it in the kit-bag.
Us and the Bottleman|Edith Ballinger Price

British Dictionary definitions for squash (1 of 2)

squash¹

/ (skwɒʃ) /

verb

to press or squeeze or be pressed or squeezed in or down so as to crush, distort, or pulp

(tr) to suppress or overcome

(tr) to humiliate or crush (a person), esp with a disconcerting retort

(intr) to make a sucking, splashing, or squelching sound

(often foll by in or into) to enter or insert in a confined space

noun

British a still drink made from fruit juice or fruit syrup diluted with water

a crush, esp of people in a confined space

something that is squashed

the act or sound of squashing or the state of being squashed

Also called: squash rackets, squash racquets a game for two or four players played in an enclosed court with a small rubber ball and light long-handled rackets. The ball may be hit against any of the walls but must hit the facing wall at a point above a horizontal lineSee also rackets

Also called: squash tennis a similar game played with larger rackets and a larger pneumatic ball

Derived forms of squash

squasher, noun

Word Origin for squash

C16: from Old French esquasser, from Vulgar Latin exquassāre (unattested), from Latin ex- 1 + quassāre to shatter

British Dictionary definitions for squash (2 of 2)

squash²

/ (skwɒʃ) /

noun plural squashes or squash US and Canadian

any of various marrow-like cucurbitaceous plants of the genus Cucurbita, esp C. pepo and C. moschata, the fruits of which have a hard rind surrounding edible flesh

the fruit of any of these plants, eaten as a vegetable

Word Origin for squash

C17: from Narraganset askutasquash, literally: green vegetable eaten green

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

squash

OTHER WORDS FOR squash

Origin of squash

OTHER WORDS FROM squash

Other definitions for squash (2 of 2)

Origin of squash

Words related to squash

How to use squash in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for squash (1 of 2)

Derived forms of squash

Word Origin for squash

British Dictionary definitions for squash (2 of 2)

Word Origin for squash