screechverb [ I ]
uk/skriːtʃ/us/skriːtʃ/to make an unpleasant, loud, high noise:
She was screeching at him at the top of her voice.
He was screeching with pain/laughter.
[ + speech ] "Don't you dare touch me!" she screeched.
The car screeched to a halt/standstill (= stopped very suddenly, making a loud high noise).
figurative The economic recovery is likely to screech to a halt/standstill (= stop very suddenly) if taxes are increased.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Shouting & screaming
- barracking
- bawl
- be in full cry idiom
- bellow
- burst
- burst out
- call (sth) out
- clamour
- cry out
- howl
- hurl
- roar
- scream your head off idiom
- scream/shout blue murder idiom
- shout
- shouting
- shriek
- squawk
- squee
- thunder
See more results »
screechnoun [ C ]
uk/skriːtʃ/us/skriːtʃ/a long, loud, high noise that is unpleasant to hear:
He let out a loud screech.
The truck stopped with a screech of brakes.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Sounds made by objects, movement or impact
- chime
- chug
- clash
- crackling
- ding
- ding-a-ling
- ding-dong
- fizz
- hoot
- knock
- pip
- rasp
- ringer
- rumbling
- sing
- slam
- ting
- twang
- whine
- whistle
See more results »