I. ˈskrēm verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English scremen; akin to Middle Dutch schreem screech, Flemish schreemen to scream, Old Saxon skrikon to screech, Old Saxon & Old High German scrīan to scream, yell, Old Norse skrækja to shriek, screech, skraumi screamer, and perhaps to Old English hræfn raven — more at raven
intransitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to voice a sudden sharp loud cry
screamed and fainted — Louis Bromfield
screamed with amusement — Marcia Davenport
children fight and scream … in the streets — Sherwood Anderson
(2) : to produce harsh and unpleasant high-pitched musical tones
even a prima donna has been known to scream occasionally
horns screamed, and flutes wailed — John Blofeld
b. : to make an outburst of noise resembling a scream : move with a screaming sound
the wind rose and screamed through the streets — H.E.Rieseberg
brilliant blue kingfishers scream at intruders — American Guide Series: Louisiana
a jet screamed out of the cushion of the gray cotton sky — Saturday Review
2. : to speak or write with expressions of intense hysterical emotion : make violent protestations or demands
growing industries … are screaming for water — Time
travelers … screamed loud and long at the shipping lines — New York Times
papers scream to the heavens about … troops along their borders — Atlantic
3. : to produce a vivid, blatant, or startling effect like a scream
framed in garish red, a bold black headline screamed — Paul Hofmann
the obviousness … fairly screams at the reader who is surely ready by now for profounder insights — New Republic
transitive verb
1.
a. : to utter with or as if with a scream
a newsboy in the street below began to scream an extra — F.V.W.Mason
screamed that she was drowning — George Meredith
b. : to sing harshly and unpleasantly especially at high pitch
vocally delivered … although some of the second-act music was screamed — Musical Digest
2. : to demand or protest as if in a screaming voice : blare forth
artists … write letters tot he newspapers screaming that they are being snubbed — Francis Steegmuller
headlines screamed the news all over the Union — Atlantic
been screaming to go into show business — Myles MacSweeney
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a sudden loud sharp penetrating cry usually expressing anger, terror, pain, or sometimes hysterical merriment
her screams filled the air as she turned and fled
b. : a sound resembling or having the effect of a scream
the crows come flapping with their screams — Thomas Vance
the shrill scream of … saws and the odor of fresh cedar wood — American Guide Series: Oregon
2. : one that provokes screams of mirth
the instructions are a scream from start to finish — Margaret Lane
what a scream he was on a party — Ring Lardner