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

As in any account of Napoleon’s life, there is an underlying comedy in the very attempt to squash an unruly mob of incidents into a tight dramatic space. —Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2023

Since squashing his jealousy for Beckham, O’Neal has spent quite a bit of time with the soccer star and his family — sons Brooklyn, 24, Romeo, 21, Cruz, 18, and daughter Harper, 12. —Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 19 Nov. 2023

Humane, a company founded by a pair of ex-Apple employees, wants to squash the tyranny of the touchscreen. —WIRED, 9 Nov. 2023

The communists, who espoused atheism and derided religions, sought to yoke Tibet to China by squashing its local culture and historical institutions; destroying Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, nunneries, and cultural artifacts; and suppressing the practice of the Tibetan Buddhist faith. —Lobsang Sangay, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2023

Civil society groups have long criticized Meta for squashing the freedom of expression of Palestinian users by removing Arabic content more heavily than Hebrew posts. —Naomi Nix, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2023

The New York Times reports that Spears speaks candidly about how the conservatorship squashed all of her motivation to continue making music. —Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2023

Republican leaders asserted their rights to block the most routine give-and-take of lawsuits, resisting handing over documents, providing discovery or submitting to depositions — in effect squashing Bonilla’s efforts to uncover how the 2021 maps were drawn. —Marilyn W. Thompson, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2023

Cricket, baseball-softball, lacrosse and squash were all approved for the program as well. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 16 Oct. 2023

Noun

Starting at the outer edge of the same skillet, arrange squash slices in slightly overlapping concentric circles to form a flower shape. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2023

Settle in for standout pies such as the squash pizza, which layers ricotta, pesto, and garlic confit on a sourdough crust. —Cameron Quincy Todd, Saveur, 15 Nov. 2023

This fall-flavor noodle bowl recipe puts the squash to spectacular use in a garlicky pork topper. —Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Nov. 2023

The cast resin squash made gentle fun of the industrial, aerospace underpinnings of Light & Space art, which featured cast resin geometric forms. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023

Incorporating both is a cheeky, feminist parody of a ceremonial rite involving a cast resin sculpture of a squash. —Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2023

Associate food editor Rachel Gurjar’s Roasted Delicata Squash With Crispy Onions uses them in a genius way: The squash topping gets dusted liberally with seasonings like cumin, garlic powder, and paprika, then re-crisped for a full-on shattering texture and bonus savory depth. —Chris Morocco, Bon Appétit, 6 Nov. 2023

The skin of delicata squash is tender when roasted and very flavorful, so try it along with the flesh. —Sunset Staff, Sunset Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023

Tomatoes, eggplants and squashes are at the end of their productive lives. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2023

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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

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

See More

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

See More

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 American Indian 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