Definition

1. Noun:

   • A type of edible gourd: A fleshy fruit of various plants of the genus Cucurbita, typically having a hard rind and used as a vegetable.
   • A racket sport: A game played in a walled court by two or four players who use rackets to hit a small, rubber ball.
   • A crushed mass or crowd: A soft, wet, pulpy mass or a crowded, confined group of people.
   • A sweet drink: A concentrated, sweetened fruit drink that is diluted with water.

2. Verb:

   • To crush or flatten: To compress something with force so that it loses its shape or becomes flat.
   • To suppress or silence: To put an end to something forcibly or to silence someone in a decisive manner.
   • To squeeze or cram: To force oneself or something into a confined space.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • We roasted butternut squash for dinner. (Here, 'squash' refers to the edible vegetable.)
  • He plays squash at the club every Tuesday. (Here, 'squash' refers to the racket sport.)
  • There was a terrible squash of people at the train doors. (Here, 'squash' refers to a crowded mass.)
  • Would you like some lemon squash? (Here, 'squash' refers to a fruit drink concentrate.)

• Verb:

  • Be careful not to squash the bread when you pack the groceries. (Here, 'squash' means to crush or flatten.)
  • The manager quickly squashed the rumor. (Here, 'squash' means to suppress or put an end to.)
  • We all squashed into the tiny elevator. (Here, 'squash' means to squeeze or cram into a space.)

Advanced Usage

• "to squash a bug": To crush an insect.
  • She had to squash the spider.
• "to feel squashed": To feel emotionally overwhelmed or physically confined.
  • I feel squashed by all these deadlines.
• "squash it" (informal): An imperative to stop something immediately.
  • That's a bad idea—let's just squash it now.

Variants and Related Words

• Squashy (adj): Soft, wet, and easily crushed; yielding under pressure.
  • The ground was squashy after the rain.
• Squash court (n): The enclosed court where the sport of squash is played.
• Summer squash (n): Types of squash with soft, edible skins, harvested in the immature state (e.g., zucchini).
• Winter squash (n): Types of squash with hard rinds, harvested when mature (e.g., pumpkin, acorn squash).

Synonyms

• Verb (to crush): Crush, flatten, compress, mash, pulp.
• Verb (to suppress): Suppress, quash, quell, stifle, silence.
• Noun (vegetable): Gourd, pumpkin (specific types).
• Noun (crowd): Crush, jam, press, throng.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Squash up (British English): To move closer together to make space.
  • Squash up so everyone can fit on the bench.

Related Idioms

• A squash and a squeeze: A situation where people or things are packed very tightly together in a small space.
  • It was a real squash and a squeeze in the back of the car.
• To squash someone's hopes/dreams: To completely destroy someone's aspirations.
  • The rejection letter squashed her hopes of getting into the university.

Noun

1. a game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets
2. edible fruit of a squash plant; eaten as a vegetable
3. any of numerous annual trailing plants of the genus Cucurbita grown for their fleshy edible fruits

Verb

1. to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition
   • crush an aluminum can
   • squeeze a lemon