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Glite Dictionary
to crush out

to crush out

1 4.0
To press a small burning thing so it stops burning, for example a cigarette
  • phrasal verb
  • /krʌʃ aʊt/
translation icon : apagar
  • The young man got up, crushed out his cigarette on the tray, and disappeared inside the house.
  • crushed out a cigarette

Examples

  • After she finished her smoke, she crushed out the cigarette and tossed it away.

  • He crushed out his Marlboro and rubbed his stinging eyes.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Well, Anna crushed out the joint in the ashtray.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • New angle to reveal a man standing in silhouette, the man who has just crushed out the cigarette.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • He stood up, crushed out a cigarette, and asked for her identification.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Crushes out the cigarette.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Jeffrey's heart leaps, and just as suddenly, the Yellow Man throws his arms out wildly, knocking a floor lamp to the ground and crushing out its light.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Flip crushed out his cigarette in the saucer he'd taken from the cafeteria to use as an ashtray, but it smoldered and filled the room with a bitter stench.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • He crushed out his cigarette in the ashtray before leaving the room.

  • To avoid starting a fire, he crushed out the glowing end of his cigarette.

Synonyms

to put out
vsto crush out
114 2.0

Make a fire, light, or cigarette stop burning

is specifically done by flattening the burning tip rather than general stopping
to blow out
vsto crush out
50 2.4

Stop a flame by breathing on it

is done by flattening the burning tip rather than using breath
to snuff
vsto crush out
31 5.7

To put out a small flame by covering or pinching it

is done by flattening the burning tip completely
to extinguish
vsto crush out
23 4.4

Stop a fire, candle, or other light from burning

is focused on flattening a small burning tip rather than general extinguishing
to stamp
vsto crush out
20 4.3

To press something hard with your foot or a tool to crush it

is done by flattening the burning tip completely
to stamp out
vsto crush out
13 4.2

To stop something completely using strong action

is a literal action of flattening a burning tip rather than broad elimination
to smother
vsto crush out
11 5.3

To stop a small fire by covering it so it has no air

is achieved by flattening the burning tip rather than removing air
to snuff out
vsto crush out
6 4.7

Stop a flame, candle, or small fire from burning

is done by flattening the burning tip completely
to put out a fire
vsto crush out
5 2.5

Stop a fire burning and spreading

is about flattening a small burning tip rather than controlling larger fires
to stub out
vsto crush out
  • Informal
3 5.3

To press the burning end of a cigarette against a surface to put it out

is done by flattening the burning tip completely
to press out
vsto crush out
3.4

To stop something burning by crushing it

is done by flattening the burning tip completely
to outen
vsto crush out
  • Archaic
9.9

To put out a fire or light

is specifically done by flattening a burning tip rather than general stopping

Antonyms

to light
905 1.0

To make something start to burn or shine

to ignite
66 4.0

To make something start burning

How Extinguished

to smother
11 5.3
to crush out
1 4.0
to douse
20 5.1
to put out
114 2.0

Surface Forms

crush out infinitive
crushed out past
crushed out past participle
crushing out present participle
crushes out third person singular

Morphology

crush + out

The meaning 'to extinguish by crushing' is directly and compositionally derived from 'crush' (apply pressure/squeeze) plus the particle 'out' (indicating cessation or extinguishing). The pattern verb + out commonly signals putting something out (e.g., put out, stamp out), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would very likely infer this sense.

Etymology

The phrasal verb crush out shows the clear image of using crush to press hard and out to stop a flame: you stamp a cigarette or a small fire with your shoe until it goes 'out'. So, it means 'to put out' something completely by crushing it.