Verb

(en verb)

to load down something with a burden

to restrict or block something with a hindrance or impediment

* {{quote-book

, year=1906 – 1921 , author= , title= , volume=1 , chapter=Encounter , passage=He [Timothy Forsyte] had never committed the imprudence of marrying or encumbering himself in any way with children.}}

to add a legal claim or other obligation

Verb

(es)

(US) to halt, stop, eliminate, stamp out, or put down, often suddenly or by force

Even the king’s announcement could not squelch the rumors.

* Beaumont and Fletcher

Oh 'twas your luck and mine to be squelched .

* Carlyle

If you deceive us you will be squelched .

(radio technology) to suppress the unwanted hiss or static between received transmissions by adjusting the gain of your receiver.

(British) to make a sucking, splashing noise as when walking on muddy ground

The mud squelched underfoot; it had been raining all night.

*

(British) to walk or step through a substance such as mud

The mud was thick and sticky underfoot, but we squelched through it nonetheless.