firmly

hard

inwards

damage

arm/hand

fingers

feet

fingers and thumb

button

broken into pieces

To make something flat

fruit

cooked vegetables

break something

powder

Press

*

*

*

*

*

*

Squeeze

*

*

*

Pinch

*

*

*

Touch

*

*

*

Squash

*

*

*

*

*

Crush

*

*

*

*

*

*

Mash

*

*

*

*

*

Grind

*

*

*

*

*

Words

Part

Meanings

Examples

Press

Verb

To push something firmly with your fingers or with your feet.

·    Doctor gently pressed her stomach.

·    I pressed the brake pedal, but nothing happened.

Squeeze

Verb

To push something firmly inwards with your hands or fingers.

Squeeze somebody’s arm/hand (= as a sign of love or friendship)

·    I squeezed the toothpaste tube, but nothing came out.

·    I’m squeezing the damp cloth to get the water out.

·    Alice squeezed my arm affectionately, and said goodbye.

Pinch

Verb

To press someone’s skin tightly between your fingers and thumb.

·    That it hurts: Dad! “Katy just pinched me!”

Touch

Verb

To press a button, for example on a telephone or a computer screen, in order to make a choice, get information, or make something work.

·    For room service, touch button 9.

Squash

Verb

To damage something, especially something soft, by pressing it and making it flat.

·    Someone sat on my hat and squashed it.

·    Careful you don’t squash those peaches.

Crush

Verb

To press something so hard that it gets damaged or broken into pieces.

·    His leg was crushed in the accident.

·    A machine for crushing rocks.

Mash

Verb

To press fruit or cooked vegetables with a fork or similar tool, until they are soft and smooth.

·    Mash the bananas and add them to
the mixture.

Grind

Verb

To break something such as corn or coffee beans into powder using a machine or special tool.

·    Grind some black pepper over the salad.