Adjacent Words

Shriek definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SHRIEK, v.i. [L. ruga, wrinkled, rugo, to bray.] To utter a sharp shrill cry; to scream; as in sudden fright, in horror or anguish.
At this she shriek'd aloud. Dryden.
It was the owl that shriek'd. Shak.
SHRIEK, n. A sharp shrill outcry or scream, such as is produced by sudden anger or extreme anguish.
Shrieks, clamors, murmurs fill the frighted town. Dryden.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: sharp piercing cry; "her screaming attracted the neighbors" [syn: scream, screaming, shriek, shrieking, screech, screeching]
2: a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry; "he ducked at the screechings of shells"; "he heard the scream of the brakes" [syn: screech, screeching, shriek, shrieking, scream, screaming] v
1: utter a shrill cry [syn: shriek, shrill, pipe up, pipe]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb Etymology: Middle English shreken, probably irregular from shriken to shriek; akin to Old Norse skrækja to shriek Date: 15th century 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 II. noun Date: 1567 1. a shrill usually wild or involuntary cry 2. a sound resembling a shriek <the shriek of chalk on the blackboard>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. 1 intr. a utter a shrill screeching sound or words esp. in pain or terror. b (foll. by of) provide a clear or blatant indication of. 2 tr. a utter (sounds or words) by shrieking (shrieked his name). b indicate clearly or blatantly. --n. a high-pitched piercing cry or sound; a scream. Phrases and idioms: shriek out say in shrill tones. shriek with laughter laugh uncontrollably. Derivatives: shrieker n. Etymology: imit.: cf. dial. screak, ON skrækja, and SCREECH

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shriek Shriek, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shrieked; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrieking.] [OE. shriken, originallythe same word as E. screech. See Screech, and cf. Screak.] To utter a loud, sharp, shrill sound or cry, as do some birds and beasts; to scream, as in a sudden fright, in horror or anguish. It was the owl that shrieked. --Shak. At this she shrieked aloud; the mournful train Echoed her grief. --Dryden.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shriek Shriek, v. t. To utter sharply and shrilly; to utter in or with a shriek or shrieks. On top whereof aye dwelt the ghostly owl, Shrieking his baleful note. --Spenser. She shrieked his name To the dark woods. --Moore.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shriek Shriek, n. A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild cry such as is caused by sudden or extreme terror, pain, or the like. Shrieks, clamors, murmurs, fill the frighted town. --Dryden. Shriek owl. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The screech owl. (b) The swift; -- so called from its cry.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(shrieks, shrieking, shrieked) 1. When someone shrieks, they make a short, very loud cry, for example because they are suddenly surprised, are in pain, or are laughing. She shrieked and leapt from the bed... Miranda shrieked with laughter. VERB: V, V with n • Shriek is also a noun. Sue let out a terrific shriek and leapt out of the way. N-COUNT 2. If you shriek something, you shout it in a loud, high-pitched voice. 'Stop it! Stop it!' shrieked Jane... He was shrieking obscenities and weeping. = scream VERB: V with quote, V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. n. Scream, screech, yell. II. n. Scream, screech, yell, shrill cry.

Moby Thesaurus

Homeric laughter, bark, battle cry, bawl, bay, be in stitches, beep, bell, bellow, belly laugh, blare, blast, blat, blow, blow the horn, blubber, boff, boffola, boom, bray, break up, breathe, bugle, burst into laughter, burst of laughter, burst out, burst out laughing, burst with laughter, bust a gut, buzz, cachinnate, cachinnation, cackle, call, caterwaul, chant, cheer, chirp, chortle, chuckle, clarion, convulsion, coo, creak, crow, cry, cry out, drawl, exclaim, fanfare, fit of laughter, flourish of trumpets, flute, gales of laughter, gasp, giggle, go into convulsions, groan, growl, grunt, guffaw, ha-ha, hail, halloo, hearty laugh, hee-haw, hee-hee, hilarity, hiss, ho-ho, holler, hollo, honk, hoot, horselaugh, howl, hurrah, keen, laugh, laugh it up, laugh outright, laughing, laughter, lilt, make an outcry, moan, mumble, murmur, mutter, nearly die laughing, outburst of laughter, pant, peal, peal of laughter, pipe, rallying cry, risibility, roar, roar of laughter, roar with laughter, rumble, screak, scream, screech, shake like jelly, shake with laughter, shall, shout, shout of laughter, shrill, sibilate, sigh, sing, skirl, skreigh, snap, snarl, snicker, snigger, snort, sob, sough, sound, sound a tattoo, sound taps, split, split with laughter, squall, squawk, squeak, squeal, tantara, tantarara, taps, tarantara, tattoo, tee-hee, thunder, tirade, titter, toot, tootle, trumpet, trumpet blast, trumpet call, twang, tweedle, ululate, ululation, wail, war cry, war whoop, warble, whine, whisper, whistle, whoop, wind, wrawl, yammer, yap, yawl, yawp, yell, yelp, yo-ho, yowl, yuck, yuk-yuk