squawk
/skwɔːk
/verb [no object]
1(Of a bird) make a loud, harsh noise: the geese flew upriver, squawking...
- Flocks of native water birds squawked as they flew over head and he could smell the fresh water and the rows of pine trees that circled the ridgeline.
- Children were crying, dogs were barking, chickens were squawking, feathers were flying.
- Bob's bird squawked from the upstairs study, and the parrot responded with a series of high, piercing barks.
Synonyms
screech, squeal, shriek, scream, croak, crow, caw, cluck, clack, cackle, hoot, cry, call
1.1 [with direct speech] (Of a person) say something in a loud, discordant tone: ‘What are you doing?’ she squawked...
- Iowa players squawked all off-season about a lack of respect after last year's success.
- He's currently squawking like a rooster choking on a peach pit about the urgency of dealing with a looming ‘crisis’ in Social Security, as though this issue suddenly has appeared on his radar.
- The girls are squawking in the living room as I type.
1.2Complain or protest about something: he is well known for squawking about price-fixing at local gas pumps...
- A few nobles squawked out in protest, and Sharin smiled a cold, dangerous little smile.
- As far back as 1900, pitchers squawked about umpires' calls and there were complaints about competitive imbalance among teams
- A terrible squealing and squawking has been set up by the ruling class and their experts as they pretend to be ‘shocked’ by the Chancellor's Budget.
Synonyms
complain, protest, object, express disapproval, raise objections, make/take a stand, put up a fight, kick, take exception, grouse, grouch, grumble, whine, wail, moan, carp, squeal
informal kick up a fuss, kick up a stink, gripe, bellyache, bitch, beef, whinge
Northern English informal mither
noun
1A loud, harsh, or discordant noise made by a bird or a person: with a startled squawk the rook flew off...
- They could now hear the ocean crashing outside the walls, and sea bird's loud squawks barely audible past the thickness of water and rock.
- A loud squawk startled her, and she looked up to find the gull hanging over the drop-off and glaring at her in what looked like exasperation.
- The humid air was thick with the squawks and cries of birds, the distant roar of howler monkeys, the electric buzzing of cicadas, and mysterious rustlings in the dense undergrowth.
Synonyms
screech, squeal, shriek, scream, croak, crow, caw, cluck, clack, cackle, hoot, cry, call
1.1A complaint or protest: her plan provoked a loud squawk from her friends...
- At this, Ryan let out a protesting squawk, which brought forth a louder round of laughter from the others.
- Despite some predictable squawks and squeals, it was clear from the beginning that the Wednesday back page was a hit with regular folk, and not only because of the witty captions.
- If that stamp isn't on offer, they demand it in an increasingly loud and annoying squawk.
Synonyms
complaint, protest, objection, fuss, grouse, grouch, grumble, whine, wail, moan, carp, squeal
informal stink, gripe, bellyache, bitch, beef, whinge
Derivatives
squawker
- Harmonious, substantial and varied, Nova makes good as a female singer-songwriter, a genre that has been sullied by a procession of semi-talented squawkers in tight pants.
- Please allow me to state from the outset that the teams' ornithological exploits often have me in fits of laughter, exposing the parrot for the malevolent little squawker that he is.
- Most male penguins are known for being obstreperous, territorial squawkers.
Origin
Early 19th century: imitative.