Added 8 October 2026
crush
/kɹʌʃ/ noun
In Latin: pīnsō Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about crush at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
verb
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To press between two hard objects; to squeeze so as to alter the natural shape or integrity, or to force together into a mass.
to crush grapes
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To reduce to fine particles by pounding or grinding.
to crush quartz
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To overwhelm by pressure or weight.
After the corruption scandal, the opposition crushed the ruling party in the elections
Origin
From Middle English cruschen (“to crush, smash, squeeze, squash”), from Old French croissir (“to crush”), from Late Latin *crusciō (“to crush”), from Frankish *krustijan (“to crush, squeeze, squash”), from Proto-Germanic *kreustaną (“to crush, grind, strike, smash”). Cognate with Middle Low German tôkrosten (“to crush, shatter”), Swedish krysta (“to squeeze”), Danish kryste (“to squash”), Icelandic kreista (“to squeeze, squash”), Faroese kroysta (“to squeeze”), Gothic 𐌺𐍂𐌹𐌿𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌽 (kriustan, “to gnash”). Akin also to Middle Dutch crosen (“to bruise, crush”), Middle Low German krossen, krö̂sen, tôkrö̂sen (“to break, shatter”), Old Swedish krusa (“to crush”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)