squeak

American  

[skweek] / skwik /

noun

1. a short, sharp, shrill cry; a sharp, high-pitched sound.

2. Informal. opportunity; chance.

   their last squeak to correct the manuscript.

3. an escape from defeat, danger, death, or destruction (usually qualified by narrow orclose ).

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verb (used without object)

1. to utter or emit a squeak or squeaky sound.

2. Slang. to confess or turn informer; squeal.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter or sound with a squeak or squeaks.

verb phrase

1. squeak by / through to succeed, survive, pass, win, etc., by a very narrow margin.

   They can barely squeak by on their income. The team managed to squeak through.

squeak British  

/ skwiːk /

noun

1. a short shrill cry or high-pitched sound

2. informal an escape (esp in the phrases narrow squeak , near squeak )

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verb

1. to make or cause to make a squeak

2. (intr; usually foll by through or by) to pass with only a narrow margin

   to squeak through an examination

3. informal (intr) to confess information about oneself or another

4. (tr) to utter with a squeak

Other Word Forms

• squeaker noun
• squeakily adverb
• squeakiness noun
• squeakingly adverb
• squeaky adjective

Etymology

Origin of squeak

1350–1400; Middle English squeken, perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Swedish skväka to croak

Related Words

• creak
• screech
• squeal