screeching

US: (skrē′ching)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

screech•ing  (skrē′ching), adj. 

1. causing or uttering screeches:
   screeching bats.
2. characteristic of screeches;
   harshly shrill:
   a screeching tone.

n. 

3. the act or sound of a person or thing that screeches.

• screech + -ing², -ing¹ 1610–20

screech′ing•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

screech /skritʃ/  v. 

1. to make a harsh, shrill cry or sound: [no object]
   The car's tires screeched.
   [~ + object]
   to screech an answer.
   [used with quotations]
   "Get out of here!'' she screeched.

n. [countable]

2. a harsh, shrill cry or sound:
   The screech of tires was followed by the sound of a collision.

screech•y, adj., -i•er, -i•est.  

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

screech  (skrēch), v.i. 

1. to utter or make a harsh, shrill cry or sound:
   The child screeched hysterically. The brakes screeched.

v.t. 

2. to utter with a screech:
   She screeched her warning.

n. 

3. a harsh, shrill cry or sound:
   an owl's screech; the screech of brakes.

• 1550–60; variant of obsolete scritch to scream; akin to screak

screech′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See scream. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

screech / skriːtʃ/ noun

1. a shrill, harsh, or high-pitched sound or cry

verb

1. to utter with or produce a screech

Etymology: 16th Century: variant of earlier scritch, of imitative origin

ˈscreecher noun

screech / skriːtʃ/ noun

1. (esp in Newfoundland) a dark rum

Etymology: perhaps special use of screech¹