noun
crush
A romantic attraction that is often temporary.
Maya has a crush on a friend from her class.
Etymology
The forceful-pressure verb developed a slang noun for intense infatuation, also naming the person admired. The emotional use conveys being strongly affected, although its exact original motivation is uncertain.
More examples
- His teenage crush fades by the end of summer.
- I keep my crush on Daniel a secret.
- She laughs about the crushes she had in middle school.
Forms
crush · crushes
Similar words
- infatuation
- Suggests a more intense, sometimes unreasonable romantic fascination.
- attraction
- Broader interest or appeal, not necessarily romantic or temporary.