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scream definition

scream (skrēm)

intransitive verb

    1. to utter a shrill, loud, piercing cry in fright, pain, etc.
    2. to make or move with a shrill, piercing sound
  2. to laugh loudly or hysterically
  3. to have a startling effect; leave a vivid impression
  4. to shout or yell in anger, hysteria, etc.

Etymology: ME screamen, akin to Fl schreemen, to scream, Ger schrei, a cry < IE *skerei- < echoic base *(s)ker- > shriek, raven, ring

transitive verb

  1. to utter with or as with a scream or screams
  2. to bring into a specified state by screaming to scream oneself hoarse

noun

    1. a sharp, piercing cry; shriek
    2. any shrill, piercing sound
  2. Informal a person or thing considered hilariously funny

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

scream Synonyms

scream

n.

screech, outcry, shriek; see cry 1, yell 1.


scream

v.

shriek, screech, squeal; see cry 3, yell.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

scream Usage Examples

Object

  • obscenity: John, usually very cool and tough, became pale, trembled and screamed terrible obscenities at me.

Converse of object

  • curdle: A frantic instrumental punctuated only by a blood- curdling scream from MacGowan, it ' articulates ' perfectly how unjust these laws were.

Adjective modifier

  • primal: Personal growth at that time meant the unleashing of primal screams.

Modifies a noun

  • queen: Carpenter earns a place as a 21st century scream queen with her hair-raising, fearless performance; Mary Beth Hurt plays the judge.

Preposition: in

  • agony: Susan and Gabkhan screamed in agony as their flesh was dissolved off their bodies.

Preposition: of

  • agony: The sound of your sizzling fat legs will be drowned only by the sound of your screams of agony.

Preposition: from

  • rooftop: Screaming from the rooftop of Philadelphia house parties, they are dancing wild and reckless.

Preposition: with

  • laughter: Sitting in the nearest bar with my former colleagues we used to scream with laughter at the antics!

Preposition: for

  • mercy: The knight screamed for mercy and promised to confess his crime.
scream usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

scream quotes

I'll thcream and thcream and thcream until I'm thick.

-Crompton, Richmal originally Richmal Samuel Lamburn

I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream.

-Ellison, HarlanJay

Para decirlo de otra manera, no es la herida la que causo¤ el grito, sino exactamente a la inversa; para herirse es preciso el grito, todo lo dema¤  s es un pretexto. In other words, it was not the wound that caused the scream, but precisely the opposite: to get wounded one needs the scream; the rest is only a pretext.

-Eltit, Diamela

scream quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"scream." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/scream>

APA Style

scream. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/scream

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