crushed

Crushed is the past participle of crush and is used as an adjective or verb to describe something that has been pressed, ground, or broken into small pieces. The resulting fragment size can vary from coarse chunks to fine powder, depending on the material and the method applied.

In industrial contexts, crushed stone or aggregate is produced by breaking quarried rock. The material is sorted by size and used in road construction, concrete production, drainage systems, and landscaping. Crushing plants typically involve multiple stages, such as primary crushing (jaw crushers) and secondary or tertiary crushing (cone or impact crushers), followed by screening and sometimes washing. Equipment used includes jaw crushers, cone crushers, impact crushers, and various mills.

In cooking and food processing, “crushed” describes ingredients prepared by applying pressure or grinding. Common examples include crushed garlic, crushed tomatoes, and crushed spices. Crushed ice refers to ice broken into small, irregular pieces, often produced by blenders or dedicated ice crushers.

In winemaking, crushed grapes are subjected to maceration and fermentation. Crushing breaks the grape skins and releases juice, sugars, and aroma compounds, contributing to the extraction of color and tannins during fermentation.

Figuratively, the term is also used to describe a person who feels emotionally overwhelmed or defeated, as in phrases like “crushed by grief” or “crushed by disappointment.”