Compress vs. Squeeze — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 5, 2024
Compress involves reducing size or volume through pressure applied evenly, often to abstract concepts like data, while squeeze usually means to press from all sides, typically involving physical objects.
Difference Between Compress and Squeeze
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Compressing typically refers to the action of making something smaller or more compact through pressure or other means, which can be applied to physical objects or abstract concepts like digital files. On the other hand, squeezing generally involves exerting pressure from all sides, often with the hands, and is mainly used with tangible items.
When you compress an item, the goal is often to reduce its size in a uniform manner, which is commonly seen in the compression of files or gases. Whereas, squeezing something usually results in temporary deformation or extraction of substances, such as squeezing a lemon to get juice.
Compress can also imply a reduction in terms of reducing the amount of data in a file or the duration of an event, without necessarily altering the physical properties. In contrast, squeeze doesn't typically relate to abstract concepts and is more about applying physical force.
Tools and devices used for compression can include mechanical presses or software algorithms, depending on whether the compression is physical or digital. Conversely, squeezing is mostly done manually, or with tools specifically designed to grip and apply pressure like pliers or tongs.
In the medical or scientific fields, compress might refer to applying pressure to stop bleeding or to compact a substance into a smaller space. Squeeze, however, is used in contexts like a blood pressure test where the arm is squeezed to monitor the pressure.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To reduce in size by pressure or enclosure.
To press from all or most sides.
Usual Context
Often abstract (data, space, time).
Mainly physical and tangible objects.
Method
Evenly applied pressure or algorithmic reduction.
Hands or tools applying uneven pressure.
Result
Permanent alteration or reduction.
Often temporary or to extract contents.
Common Tools/Devices
Presses, compressors, software.
Hands, clamps, tongs.
Compare with Definitions
Compress
Reducing the size of a file to save space.
Compressing images often helps in faster web loading.
Squeeze
Embracing tightly in one's arms.
She gave her friend a tight squeeze at the airport.
Compress
Applying pressure to reduce swelling.
Doctors compress the wounded area to stop bleeding.
Squeeze
To fit into a small or restricted space.
He squeezed into the crowded train compartment.
Compress
Squeezing together to make more compact.
She compressed the clothes in her suitcase to fit more.
Squeeze
To apply financial or other pressure.
The company squeezed their suppliers for better prices.
Compress
Decreasing the volume of sound or data.
Audio compressors are used to even out sound levels.
Squeeze
Applying pressure to extract juice or oil.
Squeeze the orange to get as much juice as possible.
Compress
Condensing information into a shorter format.
He compressed his argument into a one-minute speech.
Squeeze
To manage to get into or through a tight place.
Squeeze through the small opening to enter the cave.
Compress
Compress is a Unix shell compression program based on the LZW compression algorithm. Compared to more modern compression utilities such as gzip and bzip2, compress performs faster and with less memory usage, at the cost of a significantly lower compression ratio.
Squeeze
To press hard on or together; compress
Squeezed the balloon until it popped.
Compress
To press together
Compressed her lips.
Squeeze
To press gently, as in affection
Squeezed her hand.
Compress
To make more compact by or as if by pressing.
Squeeze
To exert pressure on, as by way of extracting liquid
Squeeze an orange.
Compress
(Computers) To encode (data) to minimize the space required for storage or transmittal
Compressed the file so that it could be downloaded more quickly.
Squeeze
To extract by applying pressure
Squeeze juice from a lemon.
Compress
(Medicine) A soft pad of gauze or other material applied with pressure to a part of the body to control hemorrhage or to supply heat, cold, moisture, or medication to alleviate pain or reduce infection.
Squeeze
To extract or gain by intimidation or other pressure
Squeezed information out of the suspect.
Compress
A machine for compressing material.
Squeeze
To pressure or intimidate (someone) to comply with a demand, as to make an extortion payment.
Compress
(transitive) To make smaller; to press or squeeze together, or to make something occupy a smaller space or volume.
The force required to compress a spring varies linearly with the displacement.
Squeeze
To obtain room for by pressure; cram
Squeezed her clothes into the suitcase.
Compress
(intransitive) To be pressed together or folded by compression into a more economic, easier format.
Our new model compresses easily, ideal for storage and travel
Squeeze
To manage to find time or space for
I asked if she might squeeze me into her busy schedule. Can we squeeze another chair in at your table?.
Compress
(transitive) To condense into a more economic, easier format.
This chart compresses the entire audit report into a few lines on a single diagram.
Squeeze
(Games) To force (an opponent) to use a potentially winning card in a trick that that opponent cannot take in bridge.
Compress
(transitive) To abridge.
If you try to compress the entire book into a three-sentence summary, you will lose a lot of information.
Squeeze
To cause (a run or base runner) to score on a squeeze play.
Compress
To make digital information smaller by encoding it using fewer bits.
Squeeze
To call as balls pitches thrown by (a pitcher) near the edges of the strike zone. Used of an umpire.
Compress
A multiply folded piece of cloth, a pouch of ice etc., used to apply to a patient's skin, cover the dressing of wounds, and placed with the aid of a bandage to apply pressure on an injury.
He held a cold compress over the sprain.
Squeeze
To give way under pressure
The rubber duck squeaks when it squeezes.
Compress
A machine for compressing.
Squeeze
To exert pressure
Squeezed until my hand hurt.
Compress
To press or squeeze together; to force into a narrower compass; to reduce the volume of by pressure; to compact; to condense; as, to compress air or water.
Events of centuries . . . compressed within the compass of a single life.
The same strength of expression, though more compressed, runs through his historical harangues.
Squeeze
To force one's way
Squeeze through a crowd.
Squeeze into a tight space.
Compress
To reduce the space required for storage (of binary data) by an algorithm which converts the data to a smaller number of bits while preserving the information content. The compressed data is usually decompressed to recover the initial data format before subsequent use.
Squeeze
The act or an instance of squeezing.
Compress
A folded piece of cloth, pledget of lint, etc., used to cover the dressing of wounds, and so placed as, by the aid of a bandage, to make due pressure on any part.
Squeeze
A handclasp or brief embrace.
Compress
A cloth pad or dressing (with or without medication) applied firmly to some part of the body (to relieve discomfort or reduce fever)
Squeeze
An amount squeezed out
A squeeze of lemon.
Compress
Make more compact by or as if by pressing;
Compress the data
Squeeze
A group crowded together; a crush.
Compress
Squeeze or press together;
She compressed her lips
The spasm contracted the muscle
Squeeze
Financial pressure caused by shortages or narrowing economic margins.
Squeeze
Pressure or intimidation to comply with a demand, as to make an extortion payment
Thugs who put the squeeze on shopkeepers.
Squeeze
(Games) A forced discard of a potentially winning card in bridge.
Squeeze
(Baseball) A squeeze play.
Squeeze
(Slang) One's primary romantic partner or sweetheart.
Squeeze
(transitive) To apply pressure to from two or more sides at once.
I squeezed the ball between my hands.
Please don't squeeze the toothpaste tube in the middle.
Squeeze
(transitive) To embrace closely; to give a tight hug to.
Squeeze
(ambitransitive) To fit into a tight place.
I managed to squeeze the car into that parking space.
Can you squeeze through that gap?
Squeeze
(transitive) To remove something with difficulty, or apparent difficulty.
He squeezed some money out of his wallet.
Squeeze
(transitive) To put in a difficult position by presenting two or more choices.
I'm being squeezed between my job and my volunteer work.
Squeeze
To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass.
Squeeze
To attempt to score a runner from third by bunting.
Jones squeezed in Smith with a perfect bunt.
Squeeze
An instance of squeezing.
Squeeze
A close or tight fit.
Squeeze
(figuratively) A difficult position.
I'm in a tight squeeze right now when it comes to my free time.
Squeeze
A hug or other affectionate grasp.
A gentle squeeze on the arm
Squeeze
(slang) A romantic partner.
I want to be your main squeeze.
Squeeze
(slang) An illicit alcoholic drink made by squeezing Sterno through cheesecloth, etc., and mixing the result with fruit juice.
Squeeze
(baseball) The act of bunting in an attempt to score a runner from third.
The game ended in exciting fashion with a failed squeeze.
Squeeze
(card games) A play that forces an opponent to discard a card that gives up one or more tricks.
Squeeze
(caving) A traversal of a narrow passage.
It was a tight squeeze, but I got through to the next section of the cave.
Squeeze
A moulding, cast or other impression of an object, chiefly a design, inscription etc., especially by pressing wet paper onto the surface and peeling off when dry.
Squeeze
(mining) The gradual closing of workings by the weight of the overlying strata.
Squeeze
(dated) The situation experienced by a middleman when pressured from both sides, especially financially.
Squeeze
(dated) A bribe, fee, or extortionary price paid to a middleman, especially in China; the practice of requiring such a bribe or fee.
Squeeze
To press between two bodies; to press together closely; to compress; often, to compress so as to expel juice, moisture, etc.; as, to squeeze an orange with the fingers; to squeeze the hand in friendship.
Squeeze
Fig.: To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass; to crush.
In a civil war, people must expect to be crushed and squeezed toward the burden.
Squeeze
To force, or cause to pass, by compression; often with out, through, etc.; as, to squeeze water through felt.
Squeeze
To press; to urge one's way, or to pass, by pressing; to crowd; - often with through, into, etc.; as, to squeeze hard to get through a crowd.
Squeeze
The act of one who squeezes; compression between bodies; pressure.
Squeeze
A facsimile impression taken in some soft substance, as pulp, from an inscription on stone.
Squeeze
The gradual closing of workings by the weight of the overlying strata.
Squeeze
Pressure or constraint used to force the making of a gift, concession, or the like; exaction; extortion; as, to put the squeeze on someone.
One of the many "squeezes" imposed by the mandarins.
Squeeze
The act of gripping and pressing firmly;
He gave her cheek a playful squeeze
Squeeze
A state in which there is a short supply of cash to lend to businesses and consumers and interest rates are high
Squeeze
A situation in which increased costs cannot be passed on to the customer;
Increased expenses put a squeeze on profits
Squeeze
(slang) a person's girlfriend or boyfriend;
She was his main squeeze
Squeeze
A twisting squeeze;
Gave the wet cloth a wring
Squeeze
An aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power
Squeeze
A tight or amorous embrace;
Come here and give me a big hug
Squeeze
The act of forcing yourself (or being forced) into or through a restricted space;
Getting through that small opening was a tight squeeze
Squeeze
To compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition;
Crush an aluminum can
Squeeze a lemon
Squeeze
Press firmly;
He squeezed my hand
Squeeze
Squeeze like a wedge into a tight space;
I squeezed myself into the corner
Squeeze
To cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means :
She forced him to take a job in the city
He squeezed her for information
Squeeze
Obtain by coercion or intimidation;
They extorted money from the executive by threatening to reveal his past to the company boss
They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him
Squeeze
Press or force;
Stuff money into an envelope
She thrust the letter into his hand
Squeeze
Squeeze tightly between the fingers;
He pinched her behind
She squeezed the bottle
Squeeze
Hug, usually with fondness;
Hug me, please
They embraced
Squeeze
Squeeze or press together;
She compressed her lips
The spasm contracted the muscle
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to compress a file?
Compressing a file means reducing its size using software algorithms to save storage space and enhance transmission speed.
Can you compress gases?
Yes, gases can be compressed by reducing their volume through pressure, often stored under pressure in cylinders.
How do compression tools differ from squeezing tools?
Compression tools like hydraulic presses apply uniform pressure, while squeezing tools like pliers focus pressure more locally.
What is a common use of squeezing in the kitchen?
A common use of squeezing in the kitchen is extracting juice from fruits, such as lemons or oranges.
What materials are typically compressed?
Materials like metals, plastics, and data are commonly compressed to reduce volume or data size for various applications.
Can compressing affect the quality of a product?
Yes, compressing, especially in digital formats like JPEG or MP3, can lead to loss of quality as data is permanently removed to reduce size.
What does it mean to squeeze in a financial context?
In finance, squeezing often refers to exerting pressure on market conditions, such as a short squeeze, where the price of a stock is driven up by investors buying shares to cover their short positions.
Can squeezing be used to measure health metrics?
Yes, squeezing is used in measuring blood pressure, where an arm cuff is squeezed to assess blood flow and pressure levels.
Is compressing always a physical process?
No, compressing can also be a digital process, such as when reducing the file size of images, videos, or documents.
What is the difference between compressing a spring and squeezing a sponge?
Compressing a spring involves applying force to shorten it, which stores potential energy. Squeezing a sponge expels water through pressure, involving physical deformation and extraction.
How do compression garments work?
Compression garments apply steady pressure to the body, enhancing blood flow and supporting muscles, which can aid in recovery and performance.
Why do people squeeze hands or objects?
People may squeeze hands or objects as a form of emotional expression, to convey comfort, excitement, or stress.
Can both compressing and squeezing be reversed?
Squeezing is usually reversible, as it often deforms objects temporarily. Compressing, especially data compression, may be irreversible if it involves lossy techniques.
What are the environmental implications of compressing waste?
Compressing waste reduces its volume, making transportation and disposal more efficient and lessening landfill space.
Is squeezing beneficial for health?
Squeezing exercises, like using a stress ball, can enhance hand strength and reduce stress, promoting better circulation and muscle tone.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
