What does squeezer mean?
A squeezer is an object that applies pressure to something for a particular purpose. Its best-known use is extracting juice from citrus fruit: a lemon squeezer, for example, compresses the fruit so that its juice can be collected. The word can also denote other compressive devices, such as tubes used to dispense toothpaste, paint, or sauces, and it may refer to a person who squeezes something. In general contexts, the suffix -er gives the noun a productive and familiar meaning: it identifies an agent or instrument associated with an action. Squeezers are especially associated with kitchens, where they are useful for preparing drinks and extracting the liquid or pulp from fruit. Although the word is used in both British and American English, the term citrus squeezer is especially common in recipes and product descriptions.
A device or utensil that compresses something, especially to extract juice from fruit or another food.
"The juice was freshest when she used the manual citrus squeezer."
In everyday use, the word most often refers to a kitchen utensil for squeezing citrus fruit.
A person who squeezes something.
"The child was known as a squeezer of every empty toothpaste tube."
This sense is less common than the device sense and may occur playfully or informally.
Use the plural when referring to more than one squeezing device or to multiple people who squeeze things.
"The café keeps several lemon squeezers beside the juicing machine."
From lemon peel to tubes of toothpaste, a squeezer turns firm pressure into useful output.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does squeezer come from?
The word was formed in the 19th century by adding the agent or instrument suffix -er to the verb squeeze. Squeeze itself comes from Middle English squesen, related to Old English cwēsan, and ultimately has Germanic roots. The related forms squeezable and squeezing reflect the same verbal base, while the word squeezer developed specifically to name a person or device that performs the action.
Related word forms
How squeezer is actually used
The word is most common for kitchen tools designed to extract juice from citrus fruit or other foods. It can also refer more generally to a mechanical device that applies pressure, and less commonly to a person who squeezes.
Easily confused with squeezer
A squeeze is the act or force of compressing something, whereas a squeezer is the device or person performing that action.