scream

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To make a loud, high cry, usually because of fear, pain, or excitement.

   She screamed when she saw the spider on the wall.

2. 2
   noun

   A loud, high cry made because of fear, pain, or excitement.

   We heard a scream coming from the next room.

3. 3
   verb

   To make a loud, piercing sound.

   The fighter planes screamed through the sky.

4. 4
   verb

   To clearly show or suggest a particular quality.

   The way she dresses just screams confidence.

Inherited from Middle English scremen, borrowed from or cognate to Middle Dutch scremen (“to yell; shout”) and Old Norse skræma (“to terrify; scare”); compare West Flemish schreemen, Zealandic schreême (“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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