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.

Words nearby squelch

squeeze-box, squeezebox, squeezed joint, squeezy, squeg, squelch, squeteague, squib, squib kick, squibb, squid

Origin of squelch

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

OTHER WORDS FROM squelch

squelch·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 forms of squelch

squelcher, 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