shriek

¹shriek

verb \ˈshrēk, especially Southern ˈsrēk\

Definition of SHRIEK

intransitive verb

1

: to utter a sharp shrill sound

2

a : to cry out in a high-pitched voice : screech

b : to suggest such a cry (as by vividness of expression) <neon colors shrieked for attention — Calvin Tomkins>

transitive verb

1

: to utter with a shriek <shriek an alarm>

2

: to express in a manner suggestive of a shriek

Examples of SHRIEK

1. The birds were shrieking in the trees.
2. She shrieked when she saw a mouse.

Origin of SHRIEK

Middle English shreken, probably irregular from shriken to shriek; akin to Old Norse skrækja to shriek

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to SHRIEK

Synonyms

howl, screech, scream, shrill, squall, squeal, yelp, yell

Related Words

bay, caterwaul, keen, squawk, wail, yawp (or yaup), yowl; bawl, call, cry, holler, shout, thunder, vociferate

Near Antonyms

murmur, mutter, whisper

Rhymes with SHRIEK

beak, bleak, cheek, chic, cleek, clique, creak, creek, Creek, eke, flic, freak, geek, gleek, Greek, keek, leak, leek, meek, peak, peek, peke, pic, pique, reek, screak, seek, sheikh, sic, Sikh, sleek, sneak, speak, squeak, steek, streak, streek, teak, tweak, weak, week

²shriek

noun

Definition of SHRIEK

1

: a shrill usually wild or involuntary cry

2

: a sound resembling a shriek <the shriek of chalk on the blackboard>

Examples of SHRIEK

1. the shriek of the train's brakes

First Known Use of SHRIEK

1567