Scream

//skɹiːm// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A loud, emphatic, exclamation of extreme emotion, especially horror, fear, excitement, or anger; it may comprise a word or a sustained, high-pitched vowel sound.
  2. 2
    a joke that seems extremely funny wordnet
  3. 3
    A loud vocalisation of many animals, especially in response to pain or fear.

    "I am tender-hearted by nature, and have found my eyes moist many a time over the scream of a wounded hare."

  4. 4
    sharp piercing cry wordnet
  5. 5
    A form of singing associated with the metal and screamo styles of music. It is a loud, rough, distorted version of the voice; rather than the normal voice of the singer.
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  1. 6
    a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry wordnet
  2. 7
    Used as an intensifier. informal

    "We had a real scream of a time at the beach."

  3. 8
    An exclamation mark.
Verb
  1. 1
    To cry out with a shrill voice; to utter a sudden, sharp outcry, or shrill, loud cry, as in fright or extreme pain; to screech, to shriek. also, figuratively, intransitive

    "I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry."

  2. 2
    utter or declare in a very loud voice wordnet
  3. 3
    To move quickly; to race. figuratively, intransitive

    "He almost hit a pole, the way he came screaming down the hill."

  4. 4
    utter a sudden loud cry wordnet
  5. 5
    To be very indicative of; clearly having the characteristics of. figuratively, informal, intransitive

    "Do you know what screams "I’m obnoxious"? People who feel the need to comment on every little thing they notice."

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  1. 6
    make a loud, piercing sound wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English scremen, scræmen, probably from a fusion of Middle Dutch scremen (“to yell; shout”) and Old Norse skræma (“to terrify; scare”); compare Dutch schremen (“to shout; yell; cry”), Swedish skrämma (“to spook; frighten”), Danish skræmme (“to scare”), West Frisian skrieme (“to weep”). Compare also Swedish skräna (“to yell; shout; howl”), Dutch schreien (“to cry; weep”), German schreien (“to scream”). Related to shriek, skrike.

Etymology 2

From Middle English scremen, scræmen, probably from a fusion of Middle Dutch scremen (“to yell; shout”) and Old Norse skræma (“to terrify; scare”); compare Dutch schremen (“to shout; yell; cry”), Swedish skrämma (“to spook; frighten”), Danish skræmme (“to scare”), West Frisian skrieme (“to weep”). Compare also Swedish skräna (“to yell; shout; howl”), Dutch schreien (“to cry; weep”), German schreien (“to scream”). Related to shriek, skrike.

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