Meaning & use
screeching
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“screeching” is a form of “screech”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Making a very loud, sharp, high sound that is unpleasant to hear.
Grammar: Goes before a noun: screeching brakes; it can also describe a voice or animal.
Patterns
- screeching brakes
- screeching tires
The screeching brakes made everyone on the platform cover their ears.
A screeching parrot woke the whole street.
The room filled with screeching feedback from the speaker.
noununcountable
A loud, high-pitched, harsh sound, such as from tires or a bird.
Grammar: Used without a; the noun form of the -ing word: the screeching of the gulls.
Patterns
- the screeching of something
The screeching of the gulls drowned out the waves.
We heard screeching from the street and ran to the window.
The screeching of metal on metal made her wince.
verbtransitive or intransitive
Producing a loud, harsh, shrill sound, or speaking in a loud, angry, high voice.
Grammar: As the -ing form of screech: the car was screeching around the corner; it can also take quoted speech.
Patterns
- screeching at someone
- screeching to a halt
The driver was screeching around the corner too fast.
She was screeching at the children to come inside.
A bus was screeching to a halt at the stop.
Word forms
| base form | screech |
|---|---|
| third person singular | screeches |
| past tense | screeched |
| -ing form | screeching |
Common combinations
- screeching brakes
- We heard screeching brakes followed by a crash.
- screeching tires
- The screeching tires left black marks on the road.
- screeching halt
- The train came to a screeching halt.
- screeching noise
- The old gate made a screeching noise.
- screeching voice
- Her screeching voice carried across the playground.
- screeching seagulls
- Screeching seagulls fought over the chips.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shrieking
- Shrieking is usually a human or animal cry full of fear, pain or excitement, while screeching often covers mechanical sounds as well.
- squealing
- Squealing is a high but shorter sound, often from pigs, children or tires on a surface.
- piercing
- Piercing stresses how sharply the sound cuts through the air and can describe quieter noises as well.
- shrill
- Shrill describes a thin, high pitch that is unpleasant, while screeching suggests more volume and roughness.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: screeching or scratching? screeching or screaming?
screeching vs scratching
Scratching describes rubbing with something sharp and is a lower, scraping sound. Screeching is a loud, high sound.
screeching vs screaming
Screaming is a loud cry of fear, pain or excitement. Screeching is harsher and often comes from machines or birds.
Practice
The car came to a ___ halt just before the crossing.
Choose one answer.
A screeching halt is a sudden stop that makes the tires or brakes squeal loudly. Screening and scratching are different words and do not fit this set phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “screeching”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.