squelch

[ skwelch ]

/ skwɛltʃ /

verb (used with object)

to strike or press with crushing force; crush down; squash.

to put down, suppress, or silence, as with a crushing retort or argument.

verb (used without object)

to make a splashing sound.

to tread heavily in water, mud, wet shoes, etc., with such a sound.

noun

a squelched or crushed mass of anything.

a splashing sound.

an act of squelching or suppressing, as by a crushing retort or argument.

Also called squelch circuit, noise suppressor. Electronics. a circuit in a receiver, as a radio receiver, that automatically reduces or eliminates noise when the receiver is tuned to a frequency at which virtually no carrier wave occurs.

Nearby words

Origin of squelch

1610–20; variant of quelch in same sense (perhaps blend of quell and quash); initial s perhaps from squash¹

Related formssquelch·er, nounsquelch·ing·ly, adverbsquelch·ing·ness, nounun·squelched, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for squelching

Yeah,” he says finally, squelching his giggles by downing half a bottle of Bud, “that sounds like Ray.
The Stacks: The Judas Priest Teen Suicide Trial|Ivan Solotaroff|June 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Traditionally, the yakuza have supplied the ruling party with votes, financial aid, and squelching scandal services.
Japan’s Justice Minister to Resign Over Yakuza Ties|Jake Adelstein|October 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
All the rest—the stuff about squelching innovation, and hurting consumers—is just kabuki theater.
Nicolas Sarkozy Demands More Policing of the Internet|Dan Lyons|May 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST
They sank up to the knee in the squelching ooze, and the ground behind them looked like an indiarubber sponge.
Trans-Himalaya, Vol. 1 (of 2)|Sven Hedin

My felt boots are soaking and squelching, my socks are snuffling.
Letters of Anton Chekhov|Anton Chekhov
The path was clear—he could see it squelching below him, pale in the last wet daylight—but where the devil did it lead?
The Path of the King|John Buchan
And squelching 'umbugs always do give me pertikler pleasure.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 105, August 26th 1893|Various
And fool not with Elephant Law, which is given to squelching the weak.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 107, September 8, 1894|Various

British Dictionary definitions for squelching

squelch

/ (skwɛltʃ) /

verb

(intr) to walk laboriously through soft wet material or with wet shoes, making a sucking noise

(intr) to make such a noise

(tr) to crush completely; squash

(tr) informal to silence, as by a crushing retort

noun

a squelching sound

something that has been squelched

electronics a circuit that cuts off the audio-frequency amplifier of a radio receiver in the absence of an input signal, in order to suppress background noise

informal a crushing remark

Derived Formssquelcher, nounsquelching, adjectivesquelchy, adjective

Word Origin for squelch

C17: of imitative origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for squelching

squelch

1620s, "to fall, drop, or stomp on something (soft) with crushing force," possibly imitative of sound made. The figurative sense of "suppress completely" is first recorded 1864.

squelch

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of squelch

Examples from the Web for squelching

squelch

verb

noun

Word Origin for squelch

squelch