SCREECH • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Screech

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noun

Screech n. A harsh, shrill cry, as of one in acute pain or in fright; a shriek; a scream.

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.

verb

Screech v. i. (past & past part. screeched; pres. part. screeching) 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."

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Etymology of 'Screech'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Screech" Quotes from Famous Books

... elevated road, slowing up for the station near by. The engineer saw one wild whirl of fire within the room, and opening the throttle of his whistle wide, let out a screech so long and so loud that in ten seconds the street was black with men and women rushing out to see what dreadful thing ...

— Children of the Tenements • Jacob A. Riis

... which had been artistically made, but was, unfortunately, out of order, began to moan and whistle, ever worse and worse. The guests burst out laughing; the Chamberlain had to break off again. "My dear Warden," he cried, "or rather screech owl,95 if you value ...

— Pan Tadeusz • Adam Mickiewicz

... had heard and seen. He swung round and struck out with the sword Silence. The assassin was far from him, still the tip of the long steel reached the outstretched murderous hand, and from it fell a broken knife, while he who held it sped on with a screech of pain. Martin darted back and seized the knife, then he leapt into the boat and pushed off. At the bottom of it lay Foy, who had fallen straight into the arms of Red Bow, dragging her down ...

— Lysbeth - A Tale Of The Dutch • H. Rider Haggard

... sound of rapid steps, Gianbattista turned his head and a part of his body to see what had happened. The sudden movement shifted the weight, and definitely destroyed the balance of the ladder. With a sharp screech, like that of a bad pencil scratching on a slate, the lower ends of the uprights slipped outward from the pillar. Gianbattista clutched at the metal bars desperately, but the long screw-driver in his hands impeded him, and ...

— Marzio's Crucifix and Zoroaster • F. Marion Crawford

... pastime, and the warning screech of the brakes informed that he had no time to scheme, but had best continue on the plan of action that had brought him thus far—that is, trust to his star and accept what should ...

— The Black Bag • Louis Joseph Vance

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