scream
[skreem]
- to utter a loud, sharp, piercing cry.
- to emit a shrill, piercing sound: The sirens and whistles screamed.
- to laugh immoderately or uncontrollably: The comedian had the audience screaming.
- to shout or speak shrilly, especially with harsh or exaggerated words: They screamed across the back fence.
- to play or sing in a high, loud, harsh manner.
- to be conspicuous or startling: That red dress really screams.
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- to utter with or as if with a scream or screams.
- to make by screaming: to scream oneself hoarse.
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- a loud, sharp, piercing cry: Her scream frightened off the burglar.
- a shrill, piercing sound: the scream of the tires as the car rounded the curve.
- Informal. someone or something that is hilariously funny: The movie was a scream.
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Origin of scream
1150–1200; 1905–10 for def 11; Middle English screamen (v.), Old English *scrǣman; akin to Old Norse skraumi chatterbox, braggart, skruma to jabber; sc- (for regular sh- as in Middle English shreame) from obsolete scritch to screech
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com1. Scream, shriek, screech apply to crying out in a loud, piercing way. To scream is to utter a loud, piercing cry, especially of pain, fear, anger, or excitement: to scream with terror. The word is used also for a little, barely audible cry given by one who is startled. Shriek usually refers to a sharper and briefer cry than scream; when caused by fear or pain, it is often indicative of more terror or distress; shriek is also used for shrill uncontrolled cries: to shriek with laughter. Screech emphasizes disagreeable shrillness and harshness, often with a connotation of lack of dignity: to screech approval at a rock concert. 9. outcry, shriek, screech, screak.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
wailroarscreechblareshoutholleryellshriekhowlsquealbellowjarbawlcaterwaulyowlvoiceshrillscreakyipExamples from the Web for screamed
Contemporary Examples
And as he adjusted to this change in circumstances, he screamed at himself a second time: Wait!
The look was subtle, sweet and screamed “au natural”—even though she paid $75 for the topper.
In another, a woman swore at the reclining passenger in front of her and screamed for the pilot to “put this plane down.”
I spent a lot of time inside that shelter with Hannah, while the rest of her crew ran, and screamed, and died.
When Fiery Fact Imitates Fiction: A Deadly Arizona Fire Mirrored One Writer’s NovelMichael Koryta
June 9, 2014
During a Patroons playoff game, Richardson had screamed profanities and a gay slur at hecklers.
Mark Cuban Warns That Basketball Players Could Get the Sterling Treatment NextEvan Weiner
June 3, 2014
Historical Examples
Madame Gurard screamed when she saw these new guests arrive.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
I had, of course, a very bad stomach-ache, and screamed out in pain.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
He blew the whistle shrilly, then folded it back and screamed down.
The Cruise of the Dry DockT. S. Stribling
He screamed and kicked over the chair his foot was balanced on.
The Second VoiceMann Rubin
She screamed slightly, and sunk back in the carriage as pale as marble.
scream
- to utter or emit (a sharp piercing cry or similar sound or sounds), esp as of fear, pain, etc
- (intr) to laugh wildly
- (intr) to speak, shout, or behave in a wild or impassioned manner
- (tr) to bring (oneself) into a specified state by screamingshe screamed herself hoarse
- (intr) to be extremely conspicuousthese orange curtains scream, you need more restful colours in a bedroom
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- a sharp piercing cry or sound, esp one denoting fear or pain
- informal a person or thing that causes great amusement
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Word Origin
C13: from Germanic; compare Middle Dutch schreem, West Frisian skrieme to weep
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for screamed
scream
v.
late 12c., scræmen, of uncertain origin, similar to words in Scandinavian, Dutch, German, and Flemish (cf. Old Norse skræma "to terrify, scare," Swedish scrana "to scream," Dutch schreijen "cry aloud, shriek," Old High German scrian, German schreien "to cry"). Related: Screamed; screaming. Screaming meemies is World War I army slang, originally a soldiers' name for a type of German artillery shell that made a loud noise in flight (from French woman's name Mimi), extended to the battle fatigue caused by long exposure to enemy fire.
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scream
n.
mid-15c., from scream (v.).
And (as they say) lamentings heard i' th' Ayre; Strange Schreemes of Death. ["Macbeth," II.iii.61]
Shakespeare's spelling probably reflects "sk-" as spelled in words from Latin (e.g. school); he also has schreene for screen. Slang meaning "something that evokes a cry of laughter" is 1888; screamer in this sense is from 1831.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper