Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To crush, crumple, or squeeze something, making it smaller, wrinkled, or folded. This action often creates a rough, irregular surface or shape.
   • To tighten the muscles of one's face, especially around the eyes or nose, often as an expression of concentration, disgust, pain, or in reaction to bright light.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To contract or huddle one's body into a smaller, tighter, or more rounded shape, often by bending the knees and back.

Usage and Examples

• Transitive Verb (Object: a thing):
  • She scrunched up the letter and threw it in the bin.
  • Don't scrunch up your test paper; I need to read your answers clearly.
• Transitive Verb (Object: a part of the face):
  • He scrunched up his eyes against the bright sun.
  • The sour lemon made the baby scrunch up her nose.
• Intransitive Verb (Body position):
  • The cat scrunched up in a ball on the sofa.
  • They scrunched up in the small tent to avoid the rain.

Advanced Usage

• "to scrunch up one's face": A common collocation describing a specific facial expression showing dislike, confusion, or physical discomfort.
  • She scrunched up her face when she tasted the medicine.
• The phrase often implies a quick, involuntary, or forceful action that changes the original smooth or relaxed state.

Variants and Related Words

• Scrunch (verb/noun): A simpler form with the same core meanings (e.g., , ).
• Crumple (verb): A close synonym, especially for crushing paper or fabric.
• Squint (verb): Specifically for partly closing the eyes.
• Hunker down (phrasal verb): Similar to the intransitive meaning of lowering the body, but implies staying in position, often for shelter or to wait.

Synonyms

• Crumple
• Crush
• Wrinkle
• Pucker
• Squeeze
• Contract
• Huddle

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Scrunch down: Very similar to the intransitive use, meaning to lower one's body or make oneself small.
  • We had to scrunch down to get through the low doorway.

Related Idioms

• To make a face: Similar to scrunching up one's face to show displeasure.
  • He made a face at the bitter coffee. (He scrunched up his face at the bitter coffee.)

Verb

1. make wrinkles or creases on a smooth surface; make a pressed, folded or wrinkled line in
   • The dress got wrinkled
   • crease the paper like this to make a crane
2. sit on one's heels
   • In some cultures, the women give birth while squatting
   • The children hunkered down to protect themselves from the sandstorm