shriek1 verbshriek2 noun
shriekshriek1 /ʃriːk/ ●○○ verb 
1[intransitive] to make a very high loud sound, especially because you are afraid, angry, excited, or in pain SYN scream: 
They were dragged from their homes, shrieking and weeping. He shrieked in agony.shriek with A group of students were shrieking with laughter.2[transitive] to say something in a high loud voice because you are excited, afraid, or angry SYN scream: ‘I’m pregnant!’ she shrieked.shriek at ‘I’ll kill you!’ Anne shrieked at him.shriek1 verbshriek2 noun
shriekshriek2 noun [countable] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Almost before he started speaking they all burst into shrieks of laughter.
- I was woken up by a loud shriek from the bathroom.
- The vehicles pulled over when they heard the shriek of the police siren.
- Then he let out a piercing shriek.
- With a shriek of delight, she threw herself into the water.
- A shriek, like the tearing of metal train wheels along metal rails, died away.
- A bird woke up in a tree and gave a shriek.
- Half way home he heard the shrieks again offshore, but this time the fathers had taken it up, too.
- Seconds later, the night was made hideous by the shrieks of alarm from the man-apes in the cave above.
- The screaming and shriek were noises in his head.
Longman Language Activatorto scream
to make a loud, high noise, or say something in a loud, high voice, because you are excited, frightened, angry, or in pain: · Everyone panicked, and people started screaming.· "Go away!" she screamedscream at: · Sammy screamed at me to stay back.scream for: · The boy screamed for help.scream with pain/delight/terror etc: · She woke up screaming with terror.
to make a sudden short screaming sound or shout something because you are very frightened, excited etc: · Bella turned and shrieked his name.· "Keep away from me!" she shrieked.shriek with excitement/laughter/fear etc: · The children began shrieking with hysterical laughter.shriek at: · The two women shrieked at one another over the noise of the machines.
to make long, high unpleasant sounds or shout something in an unpleasantly loud, high voice, especially because you are angry: · Sue grabbed him, screeching, and started hitting him with her fists.· "Get out!'' she screeched angrily. "I hate you!''screech at: · Maria suddenly started screeching at Bruno.
to make a sudden very high screaming sound, because you are excited, amused, frightened, or in pain: · The children squealed and fought among themselves.· "Don't you dare!'' Bobby squealed.squeal with excitement/laughter/delight/pain etc: · The boy squealed with pain and surprise.· They all tumbled into the water, squealing with delight.
to give a short cry because you have just been hurt: · The boy grinned, and then yelped as someone hit him in the back.· Sophie yelped with pain and dropped the pan.
to scream or shriek suddenly: let out a scream/shriek of: · Karen let out a scream of terror, as if she had seen a ghost.· The children ran down the hill, letting out shrieks of delight.
the sound of someone screaming · We could hear screams coming from inside the blazing building.· The battlefield echoed with the screams of the wounded and the dying.
a sudden short screaming sound made by someone who is very frightened, excited, or amused: · I was woken up by a loud shriek from the bathroom.a shriek of delight/laughter: · With a shriek of delight, she threw herself into the water.· Almost before he started speaking they all burst into shrieks of laughter.
a sudden high screaming sound, when frightened or excited : · Suddenly there was a bump and an awful squeal.squeals of delight/joy/laughter: · The sight of the food brought squeals of delight from the children.
a short cry of pain because you have just been hurt: · She jumped back from the fire with a sudden yelp of pain.
WORD SETSassonance, nouncaw, nouncoarse, adjectivecreamy, adjectivecrisp, adjectivecrumbly, adjectiveecho, verbecho, nounfeathery, adjectivefibrous, adjectivefine, adjectivefleecy, adjectivegluey, adjectiveglutinous, adjectivegooey, adjectivehigh, adjectivehigh, adverbhigh-pitched, adjectivemelodic, adjectivemetre, nounpitch, nounpitch, verbpowdery, adjectiverhythm, nounribbed, adjectiveridged, adjectiverough, adjectiverumble, verbrumble, nounrumbling, nounsharp, adjectiveshriek, nounshrill, adjectivesizzle, verbsonic boom, nounsplash, nounsplat, nounsplutter, verbspongy, adjectivetattoo, nountexture, nountextured, adjectivethrum, verbthud, nounthud, verbthump, verbthump, nounthunder, nounthunder, verbthunderous, adjectivethwack, nountimbre, nounting, nounting-a-ling, nountinkle, nountinkle, verbtoll, nountoll, verbtone, nountoot, verbtoot, nounultrasound, nounyielding, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Ella let out a piercing shriek.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a loud high sound made because you are frightened, excited, angry etc SYN screamshriek of Ella let out a piercing shriek. (=laugh very noisily and with a high voice)· The children shrieked with laughter as they watched the clown.
· She jumped to her feet, screaming in terror.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB· The whistle of the Catherine Street ferry gave three short shrieks.· A bird woke up in a tree and gave a shriek.· She gave a little shriek of surprise, then felt herself tipping over and grabbed at his jacket to save herself.· Then Tom gave a shriek beside me.
· Walking back down the fields, I heard a piercing shriek.· I hear moans, shrieks, rumbling, and clatter.· Joan, it seems, has heard a shriek.· He heard the shrieks of the teen-age fans.· It is the method I have used every time I have heard the shrieks and pounding feet indicating discovery.· Half way home he heard the shrieks again offshore, but this time the fathers had taken it up, too.· Over all these sounds were heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded and dying....
· There was a general gasp and Todger let out a nervous shriek of laughter that sounded horribly like mockery.
a shriek of laughterwith a shriek With a shriek of delight, Jean hugged Maggie.give/let out a shriek Ella let out a piercing shriek.