From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Screech \Screech\ (skr[=e]ch), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Screeched};
p. pr. & vb. n. {Screeching}.] [Also formerly, scritch, OE.
skriken, skrichen, schriken, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel.
skr[ae]kja to shriek, to screech, skr[imac]kja to titter, Sw.
skrika to shriek, Dan. skrige; also Gael. sgreach, sgreuch,
W. ysgrechio, Skr. kharj to creak. Cf. {Shriek}, v.,
{Scream}, v.]
To utter a harsh, shrill cry; to make a sharp outcry, as in
terror or acute pain; to scream; to shriek. "The screech owl,
screeching loud." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Screech \Screech\, n.
A harsh, shrill cry, as of one in acute pain or in fright; a
shriek; a scream.
[1913 Webster]
{Screech bird}, or {Screech thrush} (Zool.), the fieldfare;
-- so called from its harsh cry before rain.
{Screech rain}.
{Screech hawk} (Zool.), the European goatsucker; -- so called
from its note. [Prov. Eng.]
{Screech owl}. (Zool.)
(a) A small American owl ({Scops asio}), either gray or
reddish in color.
(b) The European barn owl. The name is applied also to other
species.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
screech
n 1: a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry; "he ducked at
the screechings of shells"; "he heard the scream of the
brakes" [syn: {screech}, {screeching}, {shriek},
{shrieking}, {scream}, {screaming}]
2: sharp piercing cry; "her screaming attracted the neighbors"
[syn: {scream}, {screaming}, {shriek}, {shrieking},
{screech}, {screeching}]
v 1: make a high-pitched, screeching noise; "The door creaked
when I opened it slowly"; "My car engine makes a whining
noise" [syn: {whine}, {squeak}, {screech}, {creak},
{screak}, {skreak}]
2: utter a harsh abrupt scream [syn: {squawk}, {screak},
{skreak}, {skreigh}, {screech}]
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