squeal

[ skweel ]

noun

1. a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
2. Slang.
   1. an instance of informing against someone.
   2. a protest or complaint; beef.

verb (used without object)

1. to utter or emit a squeal or squealing sound.
2. Slang.
   1. to turn informer; inform.
   2. to protest or complain; beef.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter or produce with a squeal.

squeal

/ skwiːl /

noun

1. a high shrill yelp, as of pain
2. a screaming sound, as of tyres when a car brakes suddenly

verb

1. to utter a squeal or with a squeal
2. slang.
   intr to confess information about another
3. informal.
   intr to complain or protest loudly

Derived Forms

• ˈsquealer, noun

Other Words From

• squealer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of squeal¹

1250–1300; Middle English squelen; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of squeal¹

C13 squelen , of imitative origin

Example Sentences

“I never know what I like but I really know what I don’t like. My fingertips squeal when they don’t like the fabric. It’s a bit of a magpie process.”

From Los Angeles Times

Kids squeal and laugh as they dive nose-first into the ocean from their boogie boards.

From Los Angeles Times

The expedient is to search for places where you can raise money with a minimum of squealing.

From BBC

We sat at a picnic table; the squeals of children released to the joys of summer carried in the warm Alabama air.

From Salon

“Suddenly they are squealing on others. It is a Soviet practice but it’s also something about the Russian genetic code, of fear, of trying to protect themselves at the expense of others.”

From BBC

Related Words

• howl
• peep
• rasp
• screech
• shriek
• squawk
• wail
• yelp