squeeze

(noun) the act of gripping and pressing firmly. Synonyms: squeezing. Examples: "He gave her cheek a playful squeeze."

(noun) a state in which there is a short supply of cash to lend to businesses and consumers and interest rates are high. Synonyms: credit crunch, liquidity crisis.

(noun) a situation in which increased costs cannot be passed on to the customer. Examples: "Increased expenses put a squeeze on profits."

(noun) (slang) a person's girlfriend or boyfriend. Examples: "She was his main squeeze."

(noun) a twisting squeeze. Synonyms: wring. Examples: "Gave the wet cloth a wring."

(noun) an aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power. Synonyms: power play, squeeze play. Examples: "She laughed at this sexual power play and walked away."

(noun) a tight or amorous embrace. Synonyms: hug, clinch. Examples: "Come here and give me a big hug."

(noun) the act of forcing yourself (or being forced) into or through a restricted space. Examples: "Getting through that small opening was a tight squeeze."

(verb) to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition. Synonyms: squash, crush, squelch, mash. Examples: "Crush an aluminum can." "Squeeze a lemon."

(verb) press firmly. Examples: "He squeezed my hand."

(verb) squeeze like a wedge into a tight space. Synonyms: wedge, force. Examples: "I squeezed myself into the corner."

(verb) to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means :"She forced him to take a job in the city". Synonyms: coerce, hale, pressure, force. Examples: "He squeezed her for information."

(verb) obtain by coercion or intimidation. Synonyms: extort, rack, gouge, wring. Examples: "They extorted money from the executive by threatening to reveal his past to the company boss." "They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him."

(verb) press or force. Synonyms: thrust, stuff, shove. Examples: "Stuff money into an envelope." "She thrust the letter into his hand."

(verb) squeeze tightly between the fingers. Synonyms: pinch, twinge, tweet, nip, twitch. Examples: "He pinched her behind." "She squeezed the bottle."

(verb) squeeze (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness. Synonyms: embrace, hug, bosom. Examples: "Hug me, please." "They embraced." "He hugged her close to him."

(verb) squeeze or press together. Synonyms: compress, constrict, compact, contract, press. Examples: "She compressed her lips." "The spasm contracted the muscle."