squeezed

Squeezed is the past participle of squeeze and functions as an adjective to describe something that has been pressed tightly or is under pressure. The core idea is compression: a volume is reduced, a space is tightened, or forces are applied to hold something in a narrower form.

In everyday life, objects are squeezed to extract juice (a lemon), to fit through tight spaces, or to compact items for storage. Materials can be squeezed without permanent damage, or can be deformed if the pressure is excessive. The term also describes states of being under constraint, such as being “squeezed for time” or “squeezed for resources.”

In economics and finance, a squeeze refers to pressure on a market or on borrowers. A liquidity squeeze occurs when access to cash becomes limited. A cost-of-living squeeze refers to rising prices outpacing wages. A short squeeze is a market dynamic in which rising prices force short sellers to buy back shares, amplifying the price move.

In science and technology, squeezed states appear in quantum optics, describing light with reduced uncertainty in one property at the expense of another. The term also appears in engineering to denote restricted flow or pressure points in systems such as pipelines or ducts.

Etymology and usage: squeeze derives from the verb squeeze, with the participle form borrowed into adjectives in many languages. The word is widely used across disciplines to indicate pressure, constraint, or compression.