Crush (krŭsh), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Crushed (krŭsht);
p. pr. & vb. n. Crushing.] [OE.
cruschen, crousshen, Of. cruisir,
croissir, fr. LL. cruscire, prob. of Ger. origin,
from a derivative of the word seen in Goth. kruistan to
gnash; akin to Sw. krysta to squeeze, Dan.
kryste, Icel. kreysta.] 1. To
press or bruise between two hard bodies; to squeeze, so as to
destroy the natural shape or integrity of the parts, or to force
together into a mass; as, to crush grapes.
Ye shall not offer unto the Lord that which is
bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut.
Lev. xxii. 24.
The ass . . . thrust herself unto the wall, and
crushed Balaam's foot against the wall.
Num. xxii. 25.
2. To reduce to fine particles by
pounding or grinding; to comminute; as, to crush
quartz.
3. To overwhelm by pressure or weight; to
beat or force down, as by an incumbent weight.
To crush the pillars which the pile
sustain.
Dryden.
Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise
again.
Bryant.
4. To oppress or burden
grievously.
Thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed
alway.
Deut. xxviii. 33.
5. To overcome completely; to subdue
totally.
Speedily overtaking and crushing the
rebels.
Sir. W. Scott.
To crush a cup, to drink. [Obs.] --
To crush out. (a) To force
out or separate by pressure, as juice from grapes.
(b) To overcome or destroy completely; to
suppress.
Crush (kr?sh), v. i. To be or
become broken down or in, or pressed into a smaller compass, by
external weight or force; as, an eggshell crushes
easily.
Crush, n. 1. A
violent collision or compression; a crash; destruction;
ruin.
The wreck of matter, and the crush of
worlds.
Addison.
2. Violent pressure, as of a crowd; a
crowd which produced uncomfortable pressure; as, a crush
at a reception.
Crush hat, a hat which collapses, and
can be carried under the arm, and when expanded is held in shape
by springs; hence, any hat not injured by compressing. --
Crush room, a large room in a theater,
opera house, etc., where the audience may promenade or converse
during the intermissions; a foyer.
Politics leave very little time for the bow window
at White's in the day, or for the crush room of the opera
at night.
Macaulay.