/ skriːtʃ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
to make a loud high unpleasant sound; to say sth using this sound :
[ v ]
Monkeys were screeching in the trees.
The wind screeched in his ears.
screeching brakes
He screeched with pain.
[ v speech ]
'No, don't!' she screeched.
[ vn ]
He screeched something at me.
2.
[ v , usually + adv. / prep. ] ( of a vehicle ) to make a loud high unpleasant noise as it moves :
The car screeched to a halt outside the hospital.
A police car screeched out of a side street.
■ noun
a loud high unpleasant cry or noise :
a screech of brakes / tyres
She suddenly let out a screech.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: alteration of archaic scritch , of imitative origin.