screech

American  

[skreech] / skritʃ /

verb (used without object)

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

   The child screeched hysterically. The brakes screeched.

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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 British  

/ skriːtʃ /

noun

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

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verb

1. to utter with or produce a screech

screech ² British  

/ skriːtʃ /

noun

1. (esp in Newfoundland) a dark rum

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Related Words

See scream.

Other Word Forms

• screecher noun

Etymology

Origin of screech

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

Example Sentences

Maggie fumbles one-handed for a light switch, but the screech of metal on metal opens a gap behind her, illuminating the concrete walls of the cellar.

From Literature

The silence screeches of disappointment, and I pedal backward, trying to salvage at least a bit of what I just broke.

From Literature

The truck jerked to a halt; we heard a screech of iron.

From Literature

A couple of old screech owls swooped up a hedgerow, looking for mice.

From Literature

The windows weren’t glassed in at the rear of the streetcar, and the wind cooled my face as we screeched and clanged through streets teeming with motorcars and pedestrians.

From Literature

Related Words

• howl
• shout
• shriek
• squeal
• yell