SHRIEK
Dictionary entry overview: What does shriek mean?
• SHRIEK (noun)
The noun SHRIEK has 2 senses:
1. sharp piercing cry
2. a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry
Familiarity information: SHRIEK used as a noun is rare.
• SHRIEK (verb)
The verb SHRIEK has 1 sense:
1. utter a shrill cry
Familiarity information: SHRIEK used as a verb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
• SHRIEK (noun)
Meaning:
Sharp piercing cry
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
scream; screaming; shriek; shrieking; screech; screeching
Context example:
her screaming attracted the neighbors
Hypernyms ("shriek" is a kind of...):
call; cry; outcry; shout; vociferation; yell (a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition)
Meaning:
A high-pitched noise resembling a human cry
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
screeching; screech; screaming; scream; shriek; shrieking
Context examples:
he ducked at the screechings of shells / he heard the scream of the brakes
Hypernyms ("shriek" is a kind of...):
noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))
• SHRIEK (verb)
Meaning:
Utter a shrill cry
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
pipe; shriek; shrill; pipe up
Hypernyms (to "shriek" is one way to...):
call; cry; holler; hollo; scream; shout; shout out; squall; yell (utter a sudden loud cry)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shriek"):
caterwaul; yowl (utter shrieks, as of cats)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Sentence examples:
The birds shriek in the woods
The woods shriek with many kinds of birds
