crush
UK[krʌʃ]US[krʌʃ]
v
to press something so hard that it is damaged or loses its shape
v
to defeat someone or something completely
n
a strong feeling of romantic love for someone, especially one that is not expressed or returned
n
a crowd of people pressed closely together
Etymology
The journey of 'crush' begins with the Old French 'croissir', a verb conveying the violent actions of breaking, cracking, or crushing. It entered Middle English as 'crushen', retaining this core sense of applying destructive pressure. Over centuries, its meaning expanded metaphorically: to crush an army extends the idea of physical breaking to total defeat, while a romantic crush evokes the feeling of being emotionally overwhelmed or pressed upon by intense, often unrequited, affection. The noun for a dense crowd similarly captures the literal sense of people being pressed tightly together.
Analysis
The word 'crush' is a simplex word of Middle English origin, derived from the Old French verb 'croissir', meaning 'to crack, break, or gnash (teeth)'. Its ultimate origin is uncertain but may be Germanic, imitative of a crushing sound.
Examples
Be careful not to crush the eggs when you pack them.
The government moved swiftly to crush the rebellion.
She had a huge crush on her high school teacher.