I. ˈskwēk verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English squeken, probably of imitative origin
intransitive verb
1. : to utter or make a short shrill cry or noise
heard the door … squeak upon its wooden hinges — Pearl Buck
a long lean individual who squeaked with a nasal twang — H.A.Chippendale
2. : to reveal a secret from or as if from fear of punishment : commit an act of betrayal
if somebody squeaked, he was quickly smothered and gagged — F.N.Souza
3. : to pass, succeed, or win by a narrow margin
his party barely squeaked through in congress — G.W.Johnson
by six months of hard cramming … he squeaked by the finals — H.H.Martin
: barely manage to get by
still squeaking by on the manpower available — Newsweek
transitive verb
: to utter in a shrill piping tone
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a sharp shrill usually short and not very loud cry or sound of the human voice or of an animal
gave a startled squeak as he entered — J.H.Wheelwright
b. : a sharp shrill piercing noise
the squeak of oars in oarlocks — New Yorker
the squeak and crunch of walking boots on powdery snow — Alan Devoe
2.
a. : chance , opportunity
gave him one more squeak
b. : escape
finally quashed by a 5 to 4 vote … a close squeak — H.R.Medina
— usually used in the phrase have a narrow squeak
you've had a narrow squeak , but we've pulled you through — O.Henry