Decrease and Squeeze

noun

• A change downward.
  • usage: "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales"
  • synonyms: lessening, drop-off
• A process of becoming smaller or shorter.
  • synonyms: decrement
• The amount by which something decreases.
  • synonyms: decrement
• The act of decreasing or reducing something.
  • synonyms: diminution, reduction, step-down

verb

• Decrease in size, extent, or range.
  • usage: "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper"
  • synonyms: diminish, lessen, fall
• Make smaller.
  • usage: "He decreased his staff"
  • synonyms: lessen, minify

• (v.t.) To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means.
• (v.) A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.
• (n.) To grow less, -- opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc. or in strength, quality or excellence; as, they days decrease in length from June to December.
• (v.) The wane of the moon.

noun

• The act of gripping and pressing firmly.
  • usage: "he gave her cheek a playful squeeze"
  • synonyms: squeezing
• A state in which there is a short supply of cash to lend to businesses and consumers and interest rates are high.
  • synonyms: credit crunch, liquidity crisis
• A situation in which increased costs cannot be passed on to the customer.
  • usage: "increased expenses put a squeeze on profits"
• Slang) a person's girlfriend or boyfriend. (
  • usage: "she was his main squeeze"
• A twisting squeeze.
  • usage: "gave the wet cloth a wring"
  • synonyms: wring
• An aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power.
  • usage: "she laughed at this sexual power play and walked away"
  • synonyms: power play, squeeze play
• A tight or amorous embrace.
  • usage: "come here and give me a big hug"
  • synonyms: hug, clinch
• The act of forcing yourself (or being forced) into or through a restricted space.
  • usage: "getting through that small opening was a tight squeeze"

verb

• To compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition.
  • usage: "crush an aluminum can"; "squeeze a lemon"
  • synonyms: squash, crush, squelch, mash
• Press firmly.
  • usage: "He squeezed my hand"
• Squeeze like a wedge into a tight space.
  • usage: "I squeezed myself into the corner"
  • synonyms: wedge, force
• (v.) ()
  • synonyms: coerce, hale, pressure, force
• Obtain by coercion or intimidation.
  • usage: "They extorted money from the executive by threatening to reveal his past to the company boss"; "They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him"
  • synonyms: extort, rack, gouge, wring
• Press or force.
  • usage: "Stuff money into an envelope"; "She thrust the letter into his hand"
  • synonyms: thrust, stuff, shove
• Squeeze tightly between the fingers.
  • usage: "He pinched her behind"; "She squeezed the bottle"
  • synonyms: pinch, twinge, tweet, nip, twitch
• Squeeze (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness.
  • usage: "Hug me, please"; "They embraced"; "He hugged her close to him"
  • synonyms: embrace, hug, bosom
• Squeeze or press together.
  • usage: "she compressed her lips"; "the spasm contracted the muscle"
  • synonyms: compress, constrict, compact, contract, press

• (n.) The gradual closing of workings by the weight of the overlying strata.
• (n.) Pressure or constraint used to force the making of a gift, concession or the like; exaction; extortion.
• (n.) The act of one who squeezes; compression between bodies; pressure.
• (n.) A facsimile impression taken in some soft substance, as pulp, from an inscription on stone.
• (v.t.) To press between two bodies; to press together closely; to compress; often, to compress so as to expel juice, moisture, etc.; as, to squeeze an orange with the fingers; to squeeze the hand in friendship.
• (v.t.) To force or cause to pass, by compression; often with out, through, etc.; as, to squeeze water through felt.
• (v.t.) Fig.: To oppress with hardships, burdens or taxes; to harass; to crush.
• (v.i.) To press; to urge one's way or to pass, by pressing; to crowd; -- often with through, into, etc.; as, to squeeze hard to get through a crowd.

Period when stocks or commodities futures increase in price and investors who have sold short must cover their short positions to prevent loss of large amounts of money.