crush

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Crushed 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye shall not offer unto the Lord that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut. Lev. xxii. 24. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ass . . . thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. Num. xxii. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To reduce to fine particles by pounding or grinding; to comminute; as, to crush quartz. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To overwhelm by pressure or weight; to beat or force down, as by an incumbent weight. [ 1913 Webster ]

To crush the pillars which the pile sustain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again. Bryant. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To oppress or burden grievously. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway. Deut. xxviii. 33. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To overcome completely; to subdue totally. [ 1913 Webster ]

Speedily overtaking and crushing the rebels. Sir. W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. to subdue or overwhelm (a person) by argument or a cutting remark; to cause (a person) to feel chagrin or humiliation; to squelch. [ PJC ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance; -- of fabrics; as, crushed velvet. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. utterly defeated.
Syn. -- subdued. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. brought low in condition or status by confusion, humiliation, or severe disappointment.
Syn. -- broken, humbled, humiliated, low. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

4. broken or pounded into small fragments; used of e.g. ore or stone. paved with crushed bluestone
Syn. -- ground. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. One who, or that which, crushes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Crusher gauge, an instrument for measuring the explosive force of gunpowder, etc., by its effect in compressing a piece of metal. [ 1913 Webster ]