squelch

 
Pronunciation: /skwɛltʃ/

verb

[no object]
  • make a soft sucking sound such as that made by treading heavily through mud: bedraggled guests squelched across the lawns
  • informal forcefully silence or suppress: property developers tried to squelch public protest

noun

  • 1a soft sucking sound made when pressure is applied to liquid or mud: the squelch of their feet
  • 2 (also squelch circuit) Electronics a circuit that suppresses the output of a radio receiver if the signal strength falls below a certain level.

Derivatives

squelcher

noun

squelchy

adjective (squelchier, squelchiest)

Origin:

early 17th century (originally denoting a heavy crushing fall on to something soft): imitative