squirt

American  

[skwurt] / skwɜrt /

verb (used without object)

1. to eject liquid in a jet from a narrow orifice.

   The hose squirted all over us.

2. to eject a spurt of liquid.

   The lemon squirted in my eye.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause (liquid or a viscous substance) to spurt or issue in a jet, as from a narrow orifice.

   Squirt the water over that way!

2. to wet or bespatter with a liquid or viscous substance so ejected.

   to squirt someone with a hose.

noun

1. the act of squirting.

2. a spurt or jetlike stream, as of water.

   Synonyms:

   livestream , spray , jet

3. a small quantity of liquid or viscous substance squirted.

   Put a squirt of chocolate sauce on my ice cream.

4. Informal.

   1. a youngster, especially a meddlesome or impudent one.

   2. a short person.

   3. an insignificant, self-assertive person, especially one who is small or young.

5. an instrument for squirting, as a syringe.

6. Dialect.  Usually squirts. diarrhea.

squirt British  

/ skwɜːt /

verb

1. to force (a liquid) or (of a liquid) to be forced out of a narrow opening

2. (tr) to cover or spatter with liquid so ejected

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noun

1. a jet or amount of liquid so ejected

2. the act or an instance of squirting

3. an instrument used for squirting

4. informal

   1. a person regarded as insignificant or contemptible

   2. a short person

Other Word Forms

• squirter noun
• squirtingly adverb
• unsquirted adjective

Etymology

Origin of squirt

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English verb squirten, apparently variant of swirten; cognate with Low German swirtjen in the same sense; perhaps akin to swirl; noun derivative of the verb

Example Sentences

"A lot of stuff gets dropped on or squirted at the audience," noted Lukowski.

From BBC

Another idea t was that it was an outburst from a quasar — energy squirting from the edge of a supermassive black hole at the heart of a galaxy.

From New York Times

If she had worn a flower in her blond hair, I would have expected that flower to squirt.

From New York Times

Carmen’s Habanera is now about sharing cotton candy; “La donna è mobile” concerns the way milk squirts out your nose when you laugh.

From New York Times

“La donna è mobile”? That’s about how milk squirts out your nose if you happen to laugh at exactly the wrong time.

From New York Times

Related Words

• pour
• spatter
• spit
• splash
• spray
• sprinkle