/ ʃriːk; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ v ] shriek (with sth) | shriek (at sb) to give a loud high shout, for example when you are excited, frightened or in pain
SYN scream :
She shrieked in fright.
The audience was shrieking with laughter.
( figurative )
The answer shrieked at her (= was very obvious) .
2.
shriek (sth) (at sb) to say sth in a loud, high voice
SYN scream :
[ vn ]
She was shrieking abuse at them as they carried her off.
[ v speech ]
'Look out!' he shrieked.
■ noun
a loud high shout, for example one that you make when you are excited, frightened or in pain :
She let out a piercing shriek.
a shriek of delight
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WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent. (as a verb): imitative; compare with dialect screak , Old Norse skrækja , also with screech .