scrunch up

Học thuật
Thân thiện
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

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