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DictionarycrushForceful pressure
verb / noun

crush

KRUHSH/krʌʃ/

To compress with damaging force.

The descending plate crushes the aluminum can into deep folds.

A bench-mounted manual can crusher visibly compresses an empty aluminum drink can between its descending plate and fixed base, buckling the can into deep folds.
Etymology
crushOld Frenchto gnash, smash, break

Old French cruissir covered smashing and breaking, as well as gnashing teeth. The English sense centers on damage done by heavy pressure: breaking something apart or forcing it out of shape.

In context

Corie Bobechko2:12
animals like oxen with or without metal shoes could be driven over the plants to crush them into pieces
How Ancient Farmers Worked the Fields • Spotlight • Harvesting Grains

More examples

  • Be careful not to crush the eggs in your bag.
  • The undefeated team crushes its opponents in the final.
  • We lose sight of each other in the crush.

Forms

crush · crushes · crushed · crushing

crusher noun — A machine that breaks materials by pressure.

Similar words

compress
Means pressing into less space, without necessarily causing damage.
squash
Emphasizes flattening or deforming something by pressing it.
overpower
Matches figurative crush when greater strength defeats resistance.