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
Verb
Green was essentially squashed by Raquel Rodriguez, but Green is a breakout star waiting to happen. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The broth is made of chicken or beef stock, and the soup is loaded with carrots, potatoes and squash or zucchini. Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2024 Field Notes An ayurvedic breakfast of cassava mash, salad and squash and pumpkin seeds with a creamy roasted red pepper sauce. Chloe Sorvino, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 So fears about how rising inflation and spiraling costs will impact them may have been squashed by their employer’s splashing cash at them, potentially giving them a false sense of security. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 29 Feb. 2024 The 6 God and Tory previously had beef in the earlier portions of their careers, but came together and squashed the feud in 2017. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 26 Feb. 2024 O'Shea has always been competitive and into athletics ― dance growing up, track in high school, squash in college. Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 Enterprise firms are also gearing up for another year of bug squashing, with important fixes available from the likes of Cisco and SAP. Kate O'Flaherty, WIRED, 31 Jan. 2024 The rapper and noted Trump troller, who has a history of condemning both Donald Trump and his supporters, now has a different perspective on the politician, hinting that their longtime beef has been squashed. Shania Russell, EW.com, 28 Jan. 2024
Noun
Install sturdy trellises, wire mesh cages, etc. to support rangy plants like tomatoes and vining plants like cucumbers, climbing squashes, luffa, watermelon, pumpkins, etc. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 Colorful cornucopias of tomatoes, okra, squashes, peppers, berries, and more, are ripe for the picking and combined with a noodle base to tie them all together, ready to dazzle your dinner table. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2024 Born and raised in Ciudad Constitución and beginning her project in 2014 with a roadside stall, Ibarra has since grown her business into a 37-acre field that produces chard, squash, carrots, strawberries, and more. Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2024 The menu follows a typical flow for tastings, which means lighter dishes, like a salad based on a three sisters garden (beans, squash, corn) and a corn soup were up first. Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2024 Get The Recipe 02 of 47 Lemon Chicken Pasta Swap out the zucchini with yellow squash for an easy summer twist to this radiant chicken pasta dish. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2024 Fried squash blossoms at Funke in Beverly Hills Ana Lui Chef-owner Evan Funke Ana Lui In 1933, Mrs. Rosamond Borde opened The Georgian in Santa Monica, just across from the iconic pier. Jason Sheeler, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2024 Patrons can order shrimp served with a creamy sauce made with vanilla extract, a chayote squash soup with vanilla seeds, a vanilla liqueur drink called Papenteco Kiss and plantains flambéed with vanilla ice cream. Leila Miller, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2024 Get The Recipe 50 of 70 Layered Squash Casserole Transform your squash into this rich and creamy casserole. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'squash.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 29 Mar. 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 American Indian 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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