crush

Crush is a term used in English to describe a short-term but intense romantic attraction toward another person. As a verb, to crush on someone means to feel such an attraction; as a noun, a crush can refer to the feeling itself or to the person who inspires it. The concept is common in informal speech and is often associated with adolescence, though adults also experience crushes. The phenomenon is typically characterized by excitement, preoccupation, and idealization, sometimes with shyness or anxiety.

Crush appears in various aspects of popular culture and commerce. In music, Jennifer Paige released a 1998 single titled “Crush,” and Bon Jovi released a 2000 album of the same name. The title has been used for other songs and albums by different artists as well. In film, related titles include The Crush (1993), a thriller, among other media that employ the word.

In fiction and media, Crush is the name of a friendly sea turtle in Pixar’s Finding Nemo (2003) and its successors, where the character is known for his laid-back personality and surfing dialogue. In commerce, Crush is a citrus-flavored soft drink brand best known for orange Crush, a product of the early 20th century that is currently owned by Keurig Dr Pepper in many markets.

Crush is also used as a stage name in music, notably by a contemporary South Korean singer-songwriter active since the 2010s. Overall, the term covers a range of personal experiences and widely varied uses in culture and branding.