I. ˈshril, esp South ˈsril, dial ˈswil verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English shrillen; probably akin to Old English scrallettan to resound loudly, Old Swedish skrælla to rattle, bang
intransitive verb
: to utter or emit an acute, piercing sound : produce a sharp shrill sound : screech , scream
in the trees outside the cicadas were shrilling — Lucien Price
the loudspeaker shrilled with the noise — C.S.Forester
transitive verb
: to utter or express (as a sound or words) in a shrill tone
shrilled orders and then fell with a scream — F.V.W.Mason
headlines have shrilled disquieting news — Dorothy Barclay
II. adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English shrille, from shrillen, v.
1.
a. : having or emitting a sharp high-pitched tone or sound : piercing , penetrating
a shrill whistle
the shrill music of the calliope — American Guide Series: Tennessee
b. : accompanied by sharp high-pitched sounds or cries
make shrill , hysterical little sorties around the shops after lunch — C.G.Glover
2. : having an intense, sharp, or vivid effect on the senses : keen , pungent
arc lamps bathed the occasion in shrill blue light — Noel Coward
everything looked different: the outlines were shriller — Elizabeth Pollet
3.
a. : marked by a sharp insistence on being heard : ill-tempered , strident
criticism … so shrill and partisan that it has provoked resistance and resentment — R.K.Carr
b. : marked by a lack of restraint or emotional control : intemperate , extravagant
with every look his wrath became shriller, narrower, more personal — Max Lerner
III. adverb
Etymology: Middle English shrille, from shrille, adjective
archaic : shrilly
through the high wood echoing shrill — John Milton
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: shrill (I)
: a shrill sound
the shrill of a ship's whistle
the shrill of crickets — F.D.Ommanney