machucar

Senses

1. 1.

   to crush; to squash

   to press or compress forcefully, damaging or deforming something

2. 2.

   to bruise

   to injure tissue without breaking the skin

3. 3.

   to mash

   to press into a soft or pulpy mass

Examples

• "Machucó la fruta al caerla al suelo."

  He crushed the fruit when he dropped it on the ground.

• "Me machucé el dedo con la puerta."

  I bruised my finger with the door.

• "Hay que machucar las papas para hacer puré."

  You have to mash the potatoes to make a purée.

Usage

Common in Latin America and Spain, especially in culinary and everyday contexts. Often reflexive (machucarse) when referring to injury. Can be used transitively or intransitively depending on whether the object is stated.