/ skweltʃ; NAmE / verb
1.
[ v , often + adv. / prep. ] to make a wet sucking sound :
The mud squelched as I walked through it.
Her wet shoes squelched at every step.
We squelched across the muddy field.
2.
[ vn ] ( NAmE ) to stop sth from growing, increasing or developing
SYN squash :
to squelch a rumour / strike / fire
► squelch noun [ usually sing. ]:
He pulled his foot out of the mud with a squelch.
► squelchy adjective :
squelchy ground
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent. (originally denoting a heavy crushing fall on to something soft): imitative.