squash

1 of 4

verb

ˈskwäsh How to pronounce squash (audio)
ˈskwȯsh
squashed; squashing; squashes

transitive verb

1
: to press or beat into a pulp or a flat mass : crush
2
: put down, suppress
squash a revolt

intransitive verb

1
: to flatten out under pressure or impact
2
: to proceed with a splashing or squelching sound
squash through the mud
3
squasher noun

squash

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
obsolete : something soft and easily crushed
specifically : an unripe pod of peas
2
: the sudden fall of a heavy soft body or the sound of such a fall
3
4
: a crushed mass
5
British : sweetened citrus fruit juice often served with added soda water
6
: a singles or doubles game played in a 4-wall court with a long-handled racket and a rubber ball that can be hit off any number of walls

squash

3 of 4

adverb

: with a squash or a squashing sound

squash

4 of 4

noun (2)

plural squashes or squash
: any of various fruits of plants (genus Cucurbita) of the gourd family widely cultivated as vegetables
also : a plant and especially a vine that bears squashes compare summer squash, winter squash

Examples of squash in a Sentence

Verb He squashed his nose against the window. His poor performance squashed any hope he had of a promotion. The boss squashed my idea immediately. Someone had squashed all the ribbons together in one box.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Ryan and Robert Saleh had their beef a few years ago but squashed it rather quickly. Ryan Morik, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024 No doubt, for Valya and her sisterhood to thrive, Hart needs to be squashed. Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 18 Nov. 2024
Noun
The combination of orange-fleshed squash and yellow split peas makes a visually beautiful autumnal golden soup. Claudia Alexander, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 Advertisement Sally Jacobs’ botanical art L.A. botanical artist Sally Jacobs does exacting, exquisite renderings of all things botanical, from gorgeous flowers to the gnarly details of a celery root to the rich Renaissance-style details of a turban squash (above). Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for squash 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of Middle English squachen to crush, annul, from Anglo-French esquacher, from Old French es- ex- + quachier to hide from view, from Vulgar Latin *coacticare to press together — more at cache

Noun (2)

by shortening & alteration from earlier isquoutersquash, from Narragansett askútasquash

First Known Use

Verb

1565, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1766, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1634, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of squash was in 1565

Dictionary Entries Near squash

Cite this Entry

“Squash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squash. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

squash

1 of 3 verb
ˈskwäsh How to pronounce squash (audio)
ˈskwȯsh
1
: to press or beat into a pulp or a flat mass : crush
squash a beetle
2
: to put an end to by force : suppress, squelch
squash a revolt
3
: squeeze entry 1 sense 1c, press
squashed into the seat

squash

2 of 3 noun
1
: the sudden fall of a heavy soft body or the sound of such a fall
2
: a crushing sound
3
: a crushed mass
4
: a game played in a four-walled court with a racket and a rubber ball

squash

3 of 3 noun
plural squashes or squash
: any of various fruits of plants of the gourd family that are used especially as vegetables
also : a plant and typically a vine that produces squashes
Etymology

Verb

from Middle English squachen "to crush, annul," from early French esquacher (same meaning)

Noun

a shortened and altered form of earlier isquoutersquash "the squash plant or fruit"; of Algonquian origin

Medical Definition

: a bit of tissue crushed between a slide and cover glass and stained in situ especially for cytological study of chromosomes

More from Merriam-Webster on squash

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