screech

[ skreech ]

verb (used without object)

1. to utter or make a harsh, shrill cry or sound:

   The child screeched hysterically. The brakes screeched.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter with a screech:

   She screeched her warning.

noun

1. a harsh, shrill cry or sound:

   an owl's screech; the screech of brakes.

screech

¹

/ skriːtʃ /

noun

1. (esp in Newfoundland) a dark rum

screech

²

/ skriːtʃ /

noun

1. a shrill, harsh, or high-pitched sound or cry

verb

1. to utter with or produce a screech

Derived Forms

• ˈscreecher, noun

Other Words From

• screecher noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of screech¹

First recorded in 1550–60; variant of obsolete scritch “to scream”; akin to screak

Word History and Origins

Origin of screech¹

perhaps special use of screech ¹

Origin of screech²

C16: variant of earlier scritch , of imitative origin

Synonym Study

See scream.

Example Sentences

“A black car came speeding really, really fast ... screeching and then lost control, swerved over and slammed into a bunch of people,” one witness told KTLA.

From Los Angeles Times

I don't know about y'all, but after the majority of men voted to put a screeching sexual predator back into office, I'm feeling like it's time to wind down this era of hand-holding and hair-stroking.

From Salon

When a farm, an orchard, a ranch, or any other agricultural operation is damaged in a disaster, it often leads to a drop in production, or even brings it to a screeching halt.

From Salon

But it treated transition as a screeching horror, not for the faint of heart.

From Los Angeles Times

They also outlined how a neighbour described hearing “three screeches” coming from Armstrong’s home at about the time of the murder but that the noise then stopped.

From BBC

Related Words

• howl
• shout
• shriek
• squeal
• yell