shriek

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

shriek, v. i. [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.  [1913 Webster]
"It was the owl that shrieked."  [1913 Webster]
"At this she shrieked aloud; the mournful train
Echoed her grief."  [1913 Webster]

shriek, v. t. 

 To utter sharply and shrilly; to utter in or with a shriek or shrieks.  [1913 Webster]
"On top whereof aye dwelt the ghostly owl,
Shrieking his baleful note."  [1913 Webster]
"She shrieked his name
To the dark woods."  [1913 Webster]

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.  [1913 Webster]
"Shrieks, clamors, murmurs, fill the frighted town."  [1913 Webster]

Shriek owl. (Zoöl.) (a) The screech owl. (b) The swift; -- so called from its cry.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

shriek, 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.

Idiom

shriek out say in shrill tones. shriek with laughter laugh uncontrollably.

Derivative

shrieker n.

Etymology

imit.: cf. dial. screak, ON skr{aelig}kja, and SCREECH

THESAURUS

shriek

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

ROGET THESAURUS

shriek

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.