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shriek

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The definition of a shriek is a high-pitched scream or cry often made when angry, scared or in pain.

(noun)

The high-pitched sound you make when you see a ghost is an example of a shriek.

To shriek is to make a high-pitched sound, often out of fear, anger or pain.

(verb)

When you start yelling and screaming, this is an example of a time when you shriek.

See shriek in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

to make a loud, sharp, piercing cry or sound, as certain animals, or a person in terror, pain, or laughter; screech

Origin: ME schriken, var. of scriken, prob. < ON *skrīka, to cry, akin to skrīkja, cry of birds: for IE base see scream

transitive verb

to utter with a shriek

noun

a loud, piercing cry or sound

Related Forms:

shrieker noun

See shriek in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A shrill, often frantic cry.
A sound suggestive of such a cry.

verb shrieked, shriek·ing, shrieks

verb, intransitive

To utter a shriek.
To make a sound similar to a shriek.

verb, transitive

To utter with a shriek.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English skriken, shriken

Origin: , of Scandinavian origin

Origin: ; akin to Old Norse skrǽkja

Related Forms:

shriekˈer noun

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