Definition of screech
1 : a high shrill piercing cry usually expressing pain or terror
2 : a sound resembling a screech
Explore Merriam-Webster
Examples of screech in a Sentence
With a loud screech, she smashed the plate against the wall.
Recent Examples of screech from the Web
-
Rustic, shoebox- size abodes start at $25, while $68 buys larger digs designed for such species as Western screech owls.
-
The chorus is one of those long screeches that have anchored the biggest pop hits in recent years, from singers like Katy Perry and Sia.
-
Peacocks make piercingly loud screeches, howls and honks.
-
With a screech owl at his side Naturalist, Mark Spreyer with the Stillman Nature Center in Barrington talks at Norton's USA in Barrington last year.
-
The massive quarries and thick woods are silent except for the occasional screech of geese and other waterfowl.
-
The Bird Call – in which three students compete by creating their own version of a bird screech and strut.
-
Mura Masa infuses the colorful, track with screeches and 808 clicks as the MC lets rip his signature Desiignerisms.
-
After vocalist and lead guitarist Johnny Stevens came on stage, hips wildly gyrating to the screech of his guitar, the band’s mission was quickly accomplished.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'screech.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of screech
1560
screech
Definition of screech
intransitive verb
1 : to utter a high shrill piercing cry : make an outcry usually in terror or pain
2 : to make a shrill high-pitched sound resembling a screech; also : to move with such a sound the car screeched to a stop
transitive verb
: to utter with or as if with a screech
screecher
nounExamples of screech in a Sentence
I screeched when I saw the mouse.
He kept screeching at the children to pay attention.
“You can't do this to me!” she screeched.
Recent Examples of screech from the Web
-
The great digital currency bull run of 2017 screeched to a halt in early June.
-
At her bedsheet and blanket store in the Shop on a recent weekday, Cynthia Lu watches the hallway for customers as a Gold Line train screeches to a halt at the station across the street.
-
A pair of red-tailed hawks was riding the breeze above Erickson Creek, screeching with the raptor sound familiar to most Americans.
-
Oh, yeah. This movie is LOUD, complete with a screeching Jake Gyllenhaal.
-
Martin Diaz, 51, 600 block of Grand Avenue, Aurora, was charged with drunken driving, speeding and screeching his tires at 10:36 p.m. Saturday near East Indian Trail and Aurora Avenue, Aurora police said.
-
At home, Murjanah would screech for Cat, drag him out by his hind legs from his hiding place under the sofa.
-
In a sport in which quickness matters almost as much as height, Korver made a start-and-stop move, suddenly bursting behind a screen J.R. Smith stepped in to set, then screeching to a halt.
-
But as the highway bent to the left, a blue van shot across our path and screeched to a halt 50 feet in front of us, cutting us off.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'screech.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of screech
alteration of earlier scritch, from Middle English scrichen; akin to Old Norse skrækja to screech
SCREECH Defined for English Language Learners
screech
playDefinition of screech for English Language Learners
-
: a loud and very high cry that usually expresses extreme pain, anger, or fear
-
: a loud and very high sound
screech
Definition of screech for English Language Learners
-
: to cry out or shout in a loud and very high voice because of extreme pain, anger, fear, etc.
-
: to make a loud and very high sound
SCREECH Defined for Kids
Definition of screech for Students
screeched
;screeching
1 : to make a high-pitched harsh sound
2 : to utter with a high-pitched harsh sound
3 : to cry out in a loud, high-pitched way (as in terror or pain)
Definition of screech for Students
1 : a high-pitched harsh cry the screech of an owl
2 : a high-pitched harsh sound the screech of brakes
Learn More about screech
-
See words that rhyme with screech Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for screech Spanish Central: Translation of screech Nglish: Translation of screech for Spanish speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up screech? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!