Shriek Definition

shrēk

shrieked, shrieking, shrieks

noun

shrieks

A shrill, often frantic cry.

American Heritage

A loud, piercing cry or sound.

Webster's New World

(UK) (slang) An exclamation mark.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

verb

shrieked, shrieking, shrieks

To utter with a shriek.

Webster's New World

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

Webster's New World

To utter with a shriek.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Shriek

Singular:

shriek

Plural:

From Middle English scrycke, probably from Old Norse skrækja, itself probably of imitative origin. Cognate to Swedish skrika (skrik), German schreien (Schrei), both with the same meaning, and Albanian grykÃ« (“throat").

From Wiktionary
Middle English skriken, shriken of Scandinavian origin Old Norse skrækja

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition