1. to wring (towel, rag); to squeeze (esp. 絞る)

2. to squeeze (fruit to extract juice); to press; to extract; to milk; to express milk (esp. 搾る)

3. to rack (one's brains); to strain (one's voice)

4. to extort; to exploit

5. to chew out; to reprimand severely; to rake over the coals; to give a sound scolding; to tell someone off; to scold; to rebuke (often passive voice)

6. to drill into; to train

7. to narrow down (one's focus); to whittle down

8. to gather up (curtain, etc.); to tighten (drawstring)

9. to stop down (lens)

10. to turn down (e.g. radio)

11. to bend (bow); to draw

12. to hold down; to constrict; to immobilize

13. to squeeze (Usually kana)