Hypertext Webster Gateway: "screech"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Screech \Screech\, n.
A harsh, shrill cry, as of one in acute pain or in fright; a
shriek; a scream.
{Screech bird}, or {Screech thrush} (Zo["o]l.), the
fieldfare; -- so called from its harsh cry before rain.
{Screech rain}.
{Screech hawk} (Zo["o]l.), the European goatsucker; -- so
called from its note. [Prov. Eng.]
{Screech owl}. (Zo["o]l.)
(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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (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: {screeching}, {shriek}, {shrieking}, {scream},
{screaming}]
2: sharp piercing cry; "her screaming attracted the neighbors"
[syn: {scream}, {screaming}, {shriek}, {shrieking}, {screeching}]
v 1: make a high-pitched, screeching noise, as of a door [syn: {squeak},
{creak}, {screak}, {skreak}]
2: utter a shrill cry [syn: {shriek}, {shrill}, {pipe up}, {pipe}]
3: utter a harsh abrupt scream [syn: {squawk}, {screak}, {skreak},
{skreigh}]
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