Shriek

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ʃɹiːk/
• Rhymes: -iːk

Origin

From Middle English scrycke, probably from Old Norse skrækja, itself probably of imitative origin. Cognate to Swedish skrika (skrik), German schreien (Schrei), both with the same meaning, and Albanian grykë ("throat").

Full definition of shriek

Noun

1. A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild cry such as is caused by sudden or extreme terror, pain, or the like.
• DrydenShrieks, clamours, murmurs, fill the frighted town.
• 1912: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes, Chapter 5Sabor, the lioness, was a wise hunter. To one less wise the wild alarm of her fierce cry as she sprang would have seemed a foolish thing, for could she not more surely have fallen upon her victims had she but quietly leaped without that loud shriek?
2. (UK) (slang) An exclamation mark.

Verb

1. To utter a loud, sharp, shrill sound or cry, as do some birds and beasts; to scream, as in a sudden fright, in horror or anguish.
• ShakespeareIt was the owl that shrieked.
• DrydenAt this she shrieked aloud; the mournful train
  Echoed her grief.
2. To utter sharply and shrilly; to utter in or with a shriek or shrieks.
• SpenserThe ghostly owl, shrieking his baleful note.
• MooreShe shrieked his name to the dark woods.

Anagrams

• hikers
• shrike