screech
/skriːtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /skriːtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈskrēch/ (ame, mw)
screech — verb
- screechpresent simple I / you / we / they
- screecheshe / she / it
- screechedpast simple
- screeching-ing form
1. to produce a loud, harsh, high-pitched sound that is painful to hear.
to produce a loud, harsh, high-pitched sound that is painful to hear.
The old bus screeched to a halt just before the traffic light.
collocation: screech to a halt
A monkey screeched from the treetops when it saw Asher below.
animal subject: monkey + treetops
The train wheels screeched loudly as they rounded the sharp curve.
Tunde's parrot screeched from its cage when the doorbell rang.
The car brakes screeched as Liam swerved to avoid a fallen branch.
- whisper
a very quiet way of speaking or producing sound
文法句型
screech + prepositional phrase (to a halt, against, from)
screech + adverb (loudly, horribly)
用法筆記
Commonly describes sounds from vehicles (brakes, tyres), animals (parrots, owls, monkeys), or scraping metal. Not typically used for human singing or pleasant high notes.
常見錯誤
2. to say something in a loud, high, harsh voice, usually because of anger, fear, o
to say something in a loud, high, harsh voice, usually because of anger, fear, or excitement.
"Get out of my room!" Ilan screeched at his younger brother.
screech + direct speech + at [person]
Vinícius screeched insults at the referee after the penalty decision.
screech + noun phrase (insults, threats)
"I didn't break your necklace!" screeched the frightened child.
Bilal's aunt screeched at the driver for blocking her driveway.
- murmur
to speak softly and quietly
文法句型
screech + direct speech ("Get out!")
screech + at + person
screech + that-clause
用法筆記
The speaker's tone is always harsh, high, and unpleasant — never neutral or calm. Commonly used with direct speech inside quotation marks. The object is often an insult, threat, or angry command.
常見錯誤
screech — noun
- screechsingular
- screechesplural
1. a loud, high, thin sound that hurts the ears or is very unpleasant to hear.
a loud, high, thin sound that hurts the ears or is very unpleasant to hear.
A terrible screech came from the kitchen when Niran dropped the metal tray.
a screech + from [location]
Everyone in the cafe covered their ears at the microphone's screech.
Layla let out a screech when the cold water hit her face in the dark.
The sudden screech of the alarm clock made Lisa jump out of bed.
A screech of pain escaped from the injured cat hiding behind the shed.
文法句型
a screech + of + [source]
let out + a screech
a screech + preposition (from, in)
用法筆記
Often paired with 'of' to identify the source: 'a screech of brakes', 'a screech of pain', 'the screech of tyres'. Countable — you can hear one screech or several screeches.
常見錯誤
2. a loud, high-pitched sound that is like a sharp cry, especially from a vehicle o
a loud, high-pitched sound that is like a sharp cry, especially from a vehicle or an animal.
The screech of the owl kept the campers awake all night long.
the screech of [animal]
We heard the screech of tyres and then a loud crash from the crossroads.
the screech of [vehicle part] — tyres
A high screech from the engine meant the car needed urgent repairs.
The screech of tyres told everyone a car had stopped very suddenly.
文法句型
the screech of + [vehicle/animal]
a screech + from + [source]
用法筆記
Frequently describes the sound of vehicle tyres braking hard or of certain animals (owls, monkeys, parrots). The sound is compared to a human cry in pitch and sharpness, not necessarily in emotional content.