scream

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   sharp piercing cry

   My obnoxious screams attracted the neighbors.

2. 2
   verb

   make a loud, piercing sound

   Fighter planes are screaming through the skies

3. 3
   noun

   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
   noun

   Used as an intensifier.

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

5. 5
   verb

   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.

   I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.

6. 6
   verb

   To move quickly; to race.

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

7. 7
   verb

   To be very indicative of; clearly having the characteristics of.

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

8. 8
   noun

   a joke that seems extremely funny

Etymology

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.