squash

1 of 4

verb

ˈskwäsh 

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

: squeeze, press

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

: squelch sense 1

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

Synonyms

Verb

• crush
• mash
• pulp

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

Verb

This fungal disease causes yellow blotches on pumpkins, tomato leaves, squash and cucumbers. —Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025

Pollinators including honeybees, bumblebees, and squash bees, fertilize flowers by transporting pollen from male blooms to female blooms. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2025

Noun

Nasturtiums have long been planted among squash and cucumbers to manage pests. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2025

Seeds for summer plants such as squash, cucumbers and sunflowers can be planted in the ground in mid-April, the NGA says. —Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025

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

Phrases Containing squash

• acorn squash
• butternut squash
• chayote squash
• Hubbard squash
• kabocha squash
• kobocha squash
• spaghetti squash
• squash bug
• squash racquets
• squash tennis
• squash up
• summer squash
• winter squash

Rhymes for squash

• bosh
• frosh
• gosh
• josh
• posh
• quash
• slosh
• swash
• tosh
• wash
• backwash
• downwash

Kids Definition

squash

1 of 3 verb

ˈskwäsh 

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

squash

noun

ˈskwäsh, ˈskwȯsh 

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