screech — a loud, harsh, high-pitched sound
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a loud, harsh, high-pitched sound
Pronunciation (IPA): /skriːtʃ/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother's voice can screech louder than a fire alarm when she's angry.
- The chalk screeched against the blackboard, making everyone cringe.
- He tried to sing opera but only managed to screech like a dying cat.
screech
NOUN[/skriːtʃ/]
a loud, harsh, high-pitched sound
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Screech originated as an onomatopoeia in the 16th century, designed to imitate sharp, high-pitched sounds. The word naturally evolved to directly represent the acoustic phenomenon it describes, with roots in Middle English scrichen meaning 'to screech or cry out shrilly'.
Breakdown
screech < Middle English scrichen (to screech, cry shrilly). The word is primarily onomatopoetic in nature, with the 'scr-' cluster and '-eech' sounds mimicking the piercing quality of the noise itself.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother's voice can screech louder than a fire alarm when she's angry.”
“The chalk screeched against the blackboard, making everyone cringe.”
“He tried to sing opera but only managed to screech like a dying cat.”
“The car screeched around the corner at high speed.”
📚Related Words
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