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

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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