squeak

American  

[skweek] / skwik /

noun

1. a short, sharp, shrill cry; a sharp, high-pitched sound.

2. Informal. opportunity; chance.

   their last squeak to correct the manuscript.

3. an escape from defeat, danger, death, or destruction (usually qualified by narrow orclose ).

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verb (used without object)

1. to utter or emit a squeak or squeaky sound.

2. Slang. to confess or turn informer; squeal.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter or sound with a squeak or squeaks.

verb phrase

1. squeak by / through to succeed, survive, pass, win, etc., by a very narrow margin.

   They can barely squeak by on their income. The team managed to squeak through.

squeak British  

/ skwiːk /

noun

1. a short shrill cry or high-pitched sound

2. informal an escape (esp in the phrases narrow squeak , near squeak )

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verb

1. to make or cause to make a squeak

2. (intr; usually foll by through or by) to pass with only a narrow margin

   to squeak through an examination

3. informal (intr) to confess information about oneself or another

4. (tr) to utter with a squeak

Other Word Forms

• squeaker noun
• squeakily adverb
• squeakiness noun
• squeakingly adverb
• squeaky adjective

Etymology

Origin of squeak

1350–1400; Middle English squeken, perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Swedish skväka to croak

Example Sentences

Inside the mall, the Christmas music was playing, sneakers were squeaking, and families were waiting to take photos with Santa Claus.

From Los Angeles Times

For Boxing Day, Tommy leans into tradition: "It's just going to be bubble and squeak, lots of veggies in there, that good stuff."

From BBC

I hear Jonesy’s sneakers squeak out of the classroom at full speed.

From Literature

Despite his size, he dunks so rarely that when he actually does manage to squeak the ball over the rim, the Denver bench goes absolutely bonkers.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Oh, this is good,” Autumn says in a raspy, scraping voice that sounds like the squeak of a cheap chair against a floor.

From Literature

Related Words

• creak
• screech
• squeal