squash

[ skwosh, skwawsh ]

/ skwɒʃ, skwɔʃ /

Save This Word!

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

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

Take the potential stress out of roasting and stuffing a squash by roasting the squash on its own before filling it with glazed onions, mushrooms and a nutty, fruity rice blend.
Vegetarian and vegan main dishes to anchor your Thanksgiving menu|Becky Krystal, Kari Sonde|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
It doesn’t matter if you’re serving a massive turkey, a simple trussed chicken or a beautifully stuffed squash, Thanksgiving just isn’t complete without gravy.
How to make pan gravy with or without meat drippings|Daniela Galarza|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
His menu features smoked salmon, smoked spaghetti squash, smoked crab cakes, even smoked Caesar salad dressing, virtually anything as long as it’s “touched by fire or smoke,” Darneille says.
The best barbecue joints in the D.C. area|Tim Carman|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
Spoon the rice mixture into the squash cavities, mounding it as needed.
This vegetarian Thanksgiving is a one-pan feast: Stuffed squash with broccolini and carrots|Joe Yonan|November 10, 2020|Washington Post

By 1984, the calorie count in one health-conscious story had been cut to a paltry 400, with a menu highlighting sesame chicken breasts and winter squash with cranberries.
143 years of Thanksgiving coverage in The Post|Becky Krystal|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
And including the photo of herself with Rihanna is the cherry on top of a rumor-squashing sundae.
Is Beyonce Trolling Us on Instagram?|Kevin Fallon|May 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Later I heard a revealing story from one of his squashing-playing aides.
Beware of Snarlin' Arlen|Lloyd Grove|May 7, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Fortunately for her the milk in the revolving churn at that moment changed its squashing for a decided flick-flack.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles|Thomas Hardy
The truck faltered as it hit the nearly finished obstacle, and Gordon felt his stomach squashing down onto the wheel.
Police Your Planet|Lester del Rey
The pike whistled over his head, barely missing, and he was up, squashing the big stone into the face of the other.
Police Your Planet|Lester del Rey
Lepage, too, had come down with a thud, squashing hidden air out of the interstices of the mattress.
Sophy of Kravonia|Anthony Hope
The kind Aunt Lu used to make, with the jam squashing up through the three little holes on top.
Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue on Grandpa's Farm|Laura Lee Hope

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