Word Study
screech
CIDE DICTIONARY
screech, v. i. [Also formerly, scritch, OE. skriken, skrichen, schriken, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. skr to shriek, to screech, skr to titter, Sw. skrika to shriek, Dan. skrige; also Gael. sgreach, sgreuch, W. ysgrechio, Skr. kharj to creak. Cf. Shriek, v. , Scream, v. ].
To utter a harsh, shrill cry; to make a sharp outcry, as in terror or acute pain; to scream; to shriek. Shak. [1913 Webster]
screech, n.
A harsh, shrill cry, as of one in acute pain or in fright; a shriek; a scream. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
screech, n. & v.
--n. a harsh high-pitched scream.
--v.tr. & intr. utter with or make a screech.
--n. a harsh high-pitched scream.
--v.tr. & intr. utter with or make a screech.
Idiom
screech-owl any owl that screeches instead of hooting, esp. a barn-owl or a small American owl, Otus asio.
Derivative
screecher n. screechy adj. (screechier, screechiest).
Etymology
16th-c. var. of ME scritch (imit.)
THESAURUS
screech
bark, battle cry, bawl, bay, bell, bellow, blare, blat, blate, bleat, blubber, boom, bray, breathe, buzz, cackle, call, caterwaul, chant, cheer, chirp, coo, creak, crow, cry, drawl, exclaim, flute, gasp, give tongue, give voice, groan, growl, grunt, hail, halloo, hiss, holler, hollo, hoot, howl, hurrah, keen, lilt, low, meow, mew, mewl, miaow, moan, moo, mumble, murmur, mutter, neigh, nicker, pant, penetrate, pierce, pipe, pule, rallying cry, roar, rumble, screak, scream, shout, shriek, shrill, sibilate, sigh, sing, skirl, skreigh, snap, snarl, snort, sob, sough, squall, squawk, squeak, squeal, thunder, troat, trumpet, twang, ululate, ululation, vent, voice, wail, war cry, war whoop, warble, whicker, whine, whinny, whisper, whistle, whoop, wrawl, yammer, yap, yawl, yawp, yell, yelp, yip, yo-ho, yowlROGET THESAURUS
screech
Cry
VB cry, roar, shout, bawl, brawl, halloo, halloa, hoop, whoop, yell, bellow, howl, scream, screech, screak, shriek, shrill, squeak, squeal, squall, whine, pule, pipe, yaup, cheer, hoot, grumble, moan, groan, snore, snort, grunt, vociferate, raise up the voice, lift up the voice, call out, sing out, cry out, exclaim, rend the air, thunder at the top of one's voice, shout at the top of one's voice, shout at the pitch of one's breath, thunder at the pitch of one's breath, s'_egosiller, strain the throat, strain the voice, strain the lungs, give a cry.For further exploring for "screech" in Webster Dictionary Online
