screech

noun
UK: /skriːtʃ/
US: /skriːtʃ/

  1. A loud, harsh, piercing cry.

    1. I heard a screech from the car. [ ] [ ]
    2. The screech of brakes echoed through the silent street, startling everyone. [ ] [ ]

  2. A high-pitched, piercing sound, typically made by a vehicle or object.

    1. The tires made a screech on the road. [ ] [ ]
    2. We heard the screech of metal as the gate was forced open late at night. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

howl shriek scream squawk yell
screech verb

  1. To make a loud, harsh, piercing cry.

    1. The bird began to screech loudly. [ ] [ ]
    2. She started to screech when she saw the mouse, and everyone turned around. [ ] [ ]

  2. To make a high-pitched, piercing sound.

    1. The car screeched to a halt at the corner. [ ] [ ]
    2. The microphone screeched feedback, causing some audience members to cover their ears. [ ] [ ]
screech adjective

  1. Used to describe a sound that is loud, harsh, and unpleasant.

    1. I heard a screech sound in the yard. [ ] [ ]
    2. The screech, amplified by the auditorium's acoustics, really bothered the audience. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "screech" in English means: A loud, harsh, piercing cry., A high-pitched, piercing sound, typically made by a vehicle or object..

The phonetic transcription of "screech" is /skriːtʃ/ in British English and /skriːtʃ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "screech": howl, shriek, scream, squawk, yell.

Example usage of "screech": "I heard a screech from the car.". More examples on the page.