Here are some common meanings:
Verb:
* To suppress or silence: This is the most common meaning. For example, "The government tried to squelch dissent."
* To make a soft, sucking sound: This is often used to describe the sound of walking through mud or something wet.
* To crush or press something: This is often used in a figurative sense, like "The new policy squelched any hope of improvement."
Noun:
* A soft, sucking sound: For example, "The squelch of mud under my boots."
* An act of suppressing or silencing: For example, "The company's attempt at a squelch of the negative reviews backfired."
In the context of radio communication, "squelch" refers to a feature that silences the speaker when the signal strength is weak or below a certain threshold. This helps reduce noise and interference.
To understand the intended meaning of "squelch," pay attention to the context in which it is used.