squirt
Americanverb (used without object)
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to eject liquid in a jet from a narrow orifice.
The hose squirted all over us.
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to eject a spurt of liquid.
The lemon squirted in my eye.
verb (used with object)
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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!
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to wet or bespatter with a liquid or viscous substance so ejected.
to squirt someone with a hose.
noun
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the act of squirting.
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a spurt or jetlike stream, as of water.
- Synonyms:
- livestream, spray, jet
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a small quantity of liquid or viscous substance squirted.
Put a squirt of chocolate sauce on my ice cream.
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Informal.
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a youngster, especially a meddlesome or impudent one.
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a short person.
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an insignificant, self-assertive person, especially one who is small or young.
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an instrument for squirting, as a syringe.
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Dialect. Usually squirts. diarrhea.
verb
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to force (a liquid) or (of a liquid) to be forced out of a narrow opening
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(tr) to cover or spatter with liquid so ejected
noun
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a jet or amount of liquid so ejected
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the act or an instance of squirting
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an instrument used for squirting
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informal
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a person regarded as insignificant or contemptible
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a short person
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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squirtsimple
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squirtssimple
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have squirtedperfect
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has squirtedperfect
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am squirtingprogressive
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are squirtingprogressive
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is squirtingprogressive
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have been squirtingperfect progressive
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has been squirtingperfect progressive
Past
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squirtedsimple
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had squirtedperfect
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was squirtingprogressive
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were squirtingprogressive
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had been squirtingperfect progressive
Future
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
Explanation
To squirt is to abruptly squeeze a liquid out of something. When you spend the day at the beach, you might squirt sunblock on your arms or squirt ketchup on the fries you bought at the snack bar. Octopuses and squid use their ability to squirt black ink to confuse their predators. Most kids enjoy using squirt guns to squirt each other with water. In both cases, the discharge itself can be called a squirt. If someone calls you a squirt, however, they mean that you're an insignificant and possibly annoying person: "Get lost, squirt! You're bothering me!"
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It seemed unlikely Squirt could survive in the wild.
From Washington Post • Apr. 8, 2023
Squirt a generous amount of green food coloring into the tank water.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 18, 2022
Her business - called Button and Squirt after her children's nicknames - is a one-woman operation.
From BBC • Jan. 29, 2022
Unlike the Heinz green EZ Squirt — which was released in support of the first "Shrek" movie and is forever seared into the brains of '90s kids —these aren't intended to be limited-edition flavors.
From Salon • Feb. 21, 2021
Next was Nigel the Squirt, the youngest, busy solving a Rubik’s Cube at high speed.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
