Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Crush \Crush\ (kr?sh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Crushed} (kr?sht);
   p. pr. & vb. n. {Crushing}.] [OE. cruschen, crousshen, Of.
   cruisir, croissir, fr. LL. cruscire, prob. of Ger. origin,
   from a derivative of the word seen in Goth. kruistan to
   gnash; akin to Sw. krysta to squeeze, Dan. kryste, Icel.
   kreysta.]
   1. To press or bruise between two hard bodies; to squeeze, so
      as to destroy the natural shape or integrity of the parts,
      or to force together into a mass; as, to crush grapes.

            Ye shall not offer unto the Lord that which is
            bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut. --Lev. xxii.
                                                  24.

            The ass . . . thrust herself unto the wall, and
            crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. --Num. xxii.
                                                  25.

   2. To reduce to fine particles by pounding or grinding; to
      comminute; as, to crush quartz.

   3. To overwhelm by pressure or weight; to beat or force down,
      as by an incumbent weight.

            To crush the pillars which the pile sustain.
                                                  --Dryden.

            Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again. --Bryant.

   4. To oppress or burden grievously.

            Thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway.
                                                  --Deut.
                                                  xxviii. 33.

   5. To overcome completely; to subdue totally.

            Speedily overtaking and crushing the rebels. --Sir.
                                                  W. Scott.

   {To crush a cup}, to drink. [Obs.]

   {To crush out}.
      (a) To force out or separate by pressure, as juice from
          grapes.
      (b) To overcome or destroy completely; to suppress.

Crushing \Crush"ing\, a.
   That crushes; overwhelming. ``The blow must be quick and
   crushing.'' --Macualay.

Source : WordNet®

crushing
     adj : physically or spiritually devastating; often used in
           combination; "a crushing blow"; "a crushing rejection";
           "bone-crushing" [syn: {devastating}]

crushing
     n : forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority;
         "the suppression of heresy"; "the quelling of the
         rebellion"; "the stifling of all dissent" [syn: {suppression},
          {quelling}, {stifling}]