squeak

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

squeak, v. i. [Probably of imitative origin; cf. Sw. sqväka to croak, Icel. skvakka to give a sound as of water shaken in a bottle.].

•  To utter a sharp, shrill cry, usually of short duration; to cry with an acute tone, as an animal; or, to make a sharp, disagreeable noise, as a pipe or quill, a wagon wheel, a door; to creak.  [1913 Webster]

  "Who can endure to hear one of the rough old Romans squeaking through the mouth of an eunuch?"  [1913 Webster]

  "Zoilus calls the companions of Ulysses the “squeaking pigs” of Homer."  [1913 Webster]
•  To break silence or secrecy for fear of pain or punishment; to speak; to confess.  [1913 Webster]

  "If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him."  [1913 Webster]

squeak, n. 

 A sharp, shrill, disagreeable sound suddenly uttered, either of the human voice or of any animal or instrument, such as is made by carriage wheels when dry, by the soles of leather shoes, or by a pipe or reed.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

squeak, n. & v.
--n.
1 a a short shrill cry as of a mouse. b a slight high-pitched sound as of an unoiled hinge.
2 (also narrow squeak) a narrow escape, a success barely attained.
--v.
1 intr. make a squeak.
2 tr. utter (words) shrilly.
3 intr. (foll. by by, through) colloq. pass narrowly.
4 intr. sl. turn informer.

Etymology

ME, imit.: cf. SQUEAL, SHRIEK, and Sw. skv{auml}ka croak

THESAURUS

squeak

bark, bawl, bay, bell, bellow, blare, blat, blate, bleat, bray, break, call, caterwaul, change, creak, cry, give tongue, give voice, grate, howl, keen, look-in, low, meow, mew, mewl, miaow, moo, nark, neigh, nicker, occasion, opening, peach, pimp, pipe, pule, rat, roar, screak, scream, screech, shot, show, shriek, shrill, sing, skirl, skreigh, snitch, squall, squawk, squeal, stool, time, troat, ululate, ululation, wail, whicker, whine, whinny, whistle, wrawl, yammer, yap, yawl, yawp, yelp, yip, yowl

ROGET THESAURUS

squeak

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.