SHRILL


Meaning of SHRILL in English

I. ˈshril, especially Southern ˈsril verb

Etymology: Middle English; probably akin to Old English scrallettan to resound loudly — more at skirl

Date: 13th century

transitive verb

: scream

intransitive verb

: to utter or emit an acute piercing sound

II. adjective

Date: 14th century

1.

a. : having or emitting a sharp high-pitched tone or sound : piercing

b. : accompanied by sharp high-pitched sounds or cries

shrill gaiety

2. : having a sharp or vivid effect on the senses

shrill light

3. : strident , intemperate

shrill anger

shrill criticism

• shrill adverb

• shrill·ness noun

• shril·ly ˈshril-lē, especially Southern ˈsril- adverb

III. noun

Date: 1589

: a shrill sound

the shrill of the ship's whistle

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.