squash

A vegetable with a thick outer skin, or the plant it grows on.

• We had squash for dinner.
• She grows several kinds of squash.
• Cut the squash into small pieces.

Common phrases: butternut squash, roasted squash, winter squash

An indoor game in which players hit a small ball against a wall with rackets.

• We play squash on Fridays.
• The squash court is downstairs.
• Have you ever watched a squash match?

Common phrases: play squash, squash court, squash player

A sweet fruit drink made by adding water to a strong fruit mixture.

• Would you like some orange squash?
• Mix the squash with cold water.
• The children drank squash after lunch.

Similar words: cordial

Common phrases: orange squash, lemon squash, glass of squash

A situation in which people have very little room to move.

• It was a squash inside.
• With six people, the car was quite a squash.
• The lift was a real squash this morning.

Similar words: squeeze, crush

Common phrases: a squash, bit of squash

To press something flat, damage it by pressing, or squeeze someone or something into a small space.

• Don’t squash the tomatoes.
• We squashed into the tiny car.
• Someone had squashed my hat flat.

How to use it: squash into something (We managed to squash into the back seat.); squash someone/something into something (She squashed all her clothes into one bag.); squash something flat (The heavy box squashed the cake flat.)

Similar words: squeeze, crush, flatten

Common phrases: squash something flat, squash into something, squash a bug