Lexic.us

Definition of Shriek

1. Noun. Sharp piercing cry. "Her screaming attracted the neighbors"

2. Verb. Utter a shrill cry. "The woods shriek with many kinds of birds "

3. Noun. A high-pitched noise resembling a human cry. ; "He heard the scream of the brakes"

Definition of Shriek

1. v. i. To utter a loud, sharp, shrill sound or cry, as do some birds and beasts; to scream, as in a sudden fright, in horror or anguish.

2. v. t. To utter sharply and shrilly; to utter in or with a shriek or shrieks.

3. n. A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild cry such as is caused by sudden or extreme terror, pain, or the like.

Definition of Shriek

1. Noun. A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild cry such as is caused by sudden or extreme terror, pain, or the like. ¹

2. Verb. To utter a loud, sharp, shrill sound or cry, as do some birds and beasts; to scream, as in a sudden fright, in horror or anguish. ¹

3. Verb. To utter sharply and shrilly; to utter in or with a shriek or shrieks. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Shriek

1. to utter a shrill cry [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Shriek

1. To utter sharply and shrilly; to utter in or with a shriek or shrieks. "On top whereof aye dwelt the ghostly owl, Shrieking his baleful note." (Spenser) "She shrieked his name To the dark woods." (Moore) A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild cry such as is caused by sudden or extreme terror, pain, or the like. "Shrieks, clamors, murmurs, fill the frighted town." (Dryden) Shriek owl. The screech owl. The swift; so called from its cry. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Shriek

shrewdnesses shrewed shrewing shrewish shrewishly shrewishness shrewishnesses shrewlike shrewmice shrewmouse

shrews shri shriech shrieched shrieches shriek (current term) shrieked shrieker shriekers shriekfest

shriekfests shriekier shriekiest shrieking shrieking(a) shriekingly shriekings shriekling shrieklings shrieks

Literary usage of Shriek

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Bentley's Miscellany by Charles Dickens, William Harrison Ainsworth, Albert Smith (1841)
"What! after shooting you through the knee ? " THE NIGHT-shriek. A TALE FOR DECEMBER. BY CHARLES OLLIER. ..."

2. An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language by Walter William Skeat (1893)
"See Screech, shriek. Der. scream, sb. SCREAM, to cry out shrilly. ... And see shrike, Doublet, shriek, which is merely a variant, due to the alteration of ..."

3. Bentley's Miscellany by Charles Dickens, William Harrison Ainsworth, Albert Smith, George Cruikshank (1841)
"What! after shooting you through the knee V THE NIGHT-shriek. A TALE FOR DECEMBER. EV CHARLES OLLIER. ..."

4. The Complete Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott by Walter Scott (1900)
"Hark ! hears he not the sea-nymph speak Her anger in that thrilling shriek ! — No ! all too late, with Allan's dream Mingled the captive's warning scream. ..."

5. Diary of the American Revolution: From Newspapers and Original Documents by Frank Moore (1860)
"... George felt the dream, fetch'd many a shriek, And thu' the ghost is gone, Starts from his bed,—still hears it speak, A cold damp sweat comes on. ..."

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