Definition

1. Noun:
   • A sharp, high-pitched, and piercing cry or sound: A loud, harsh, and often unpleasant noise, similar to a human scream or the sound of certain machinery.
   • The act of making such a sound: The action or instance of producing a screech.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The screeching of the car's brakes made everyone jump.
  • We could hear the screeching of the owls in the forest at night.
  • The sudden screeching from the microphone feedback was unbearable.

Advanced Usage

• "to come to a screeching halt": to stop very suddenly and completely, often with a loud, harsh noise.
  • The project came to a screeching halt when the funding was cut.
  • All conversation came to a screeching halt when the manager entered the room.

Variants and Related Words

• Screech (verb/noun): To make or the act of making a screeching sound.
  • The tires screeched on the wet pavement.
• Screechy (adjective): Describing a sound that is high-pitched and harsh.
  • She has a rather screechy voice when she gets excited.

Synonyms

• Shrieking: A loud, sharp, piercing cry or sound.
• Screaming: A long, loud, piercing cry expressing extreme emotion or pain.
• Squealing: A long, high-pitched cry or sound.

Related Phrases

• Screech owl: A type of owl known for its trilling or screeching call, not a phrasal verb but a compound noun where "screech" describes the type of owl.

Noun

1. sharp piercing cry
   • her screaming attracted the neighbors
2. a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry
   • he ducked at the screechings of shells
   • he heard the scream of the brakes