screech

[skreech]

verb (used without object)

1. to utter or make a harsh, shrill cry or sound.

   The child screeched hysterically. The brakes screeched.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter with a screech.

   She screeched her warning.

noun

1. a harsh, shrill cry or sound.

   an owl's screech; the screech of brakes.

screech

¹

/ skriːtʃ /

noun

1. a shrill, harsh, or high-pitched sound or cry

verb

1. to utter with or produce a screech

screech

²

/ skriːtʃ /

noun

1. (esp in Newfoundland) a dark rum

Other Word Forms

• screecher noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of screech¹

First recorded in 1550–60; variant of obsolete scritch “to scream”; akin to screak

Word History and Origins

Origin of screech¹

C16: variant of earlier scritch , of imitative origin

Origin of screech²

perhaps special use of _screech ¹

Synonym Study

See scream.

Example Sentences

The sounds of roaring engines, screeching tyres and cracking exhaust pipes are often heard tearing through streets surrounding the Croydon Road Tesco store, as car lovers meet there to show off their wheels.

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A draw at Falkirk saw fans once again screeching for his sacking, a pretty much constant and venomous refrain in recent times.

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Nail guns tat-tat-tat and chain saws screech on almost every block.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The 65,000 fans in attendance undoubtedly showed up sobbing and screeching with unbridled elation.

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She heard the car suddenly screech and the vehicle head towards the nearby home Mr Ferns shared with his mother Phyliss, where it stopped.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• howl 
• shout 
• shriek 
• squeal 
• yell