scream

[skreem] /skrim/
verb (used without object)
1.
to utter a loud, sharp, piercing cry.
2.
to emit a shrill, piercing sound:
The sirens and whistles screamed.
3.
to laugh immoderately or uncontrollably:
The comedian had the audience screaming.
4.
to shout or speak shrilly, especially with harsh or exaggerated words:
They screamed across the back fence.
5.
to play or sing in a high, loud, harsh manner.
6.
to be conspicuous or startling:
That red dress really screams.
verb (used with object)
7.
to utter with or as if with a scream or screams.
8.
to make by screaming:
to scream oneself hoarse.
noun
9.
a loud, sharp, piercing cry:
Her scream frightened off the burglar.
10.
a shrill, piercing sound:
the scream of the tires as the car rounded the curve.
11.
Informal. someone or something that is hilariously funny:
The movie was a scream.
Origin
1150-1200; 1905-10 for def 11; Middle English screamen (v.), Old English *scrǣman; akin to Old Norse skraumi chatterbox, braggart, skruma to jabber; sc- (for regular sh- as in Middle English shreame) from obsolete scritch to screech
Related forms
outscream, verb (used with object)
Synonyms
1. Scream, shriek, screech apply to crying out in a loud, piercing way. To scream is to utter a loud, piercing cry, especially of pain, fear, anger, or excitement: to scream with terror. The word is used also for a little, barely audible cry given by one who is startled. Shriek usually refers to a sharper and briefer cry than scream; when caused by fear or pain, it is often indicative of more terror or distress; shriek is also used for shrill uncontrolled cries: to shriek with laughter. Screech emphasizes disagreeable shrillness and harshness, often with a connotation of lack of dignity: to screech approval at a rock concert. 9. outcry, shriek, screech, screak.

Scream, The

noun
1.
a painting (1937) by Edvard Munch.
Examples from the web for scream
  • Dey scream funny when me give dem wedgie and take dere lunch money.
  • The first thing she noticed was an unmistakable scream of yellow flashing back to her from inside the tubes.
  • Other customers scream at her cashier before jumping into their cars and tearing away from the station.
  • Faculty openly talked about how certain senior faculty liked to scream and yell and make junior people cry.
  • And whenever the system lurches or burps, they scream.
  • But more mundane issues make real-life astronauts want to scream.
  • They may simply yell and scream or take it a step further by violently lashing out at anyone within their reach.
  • Let's try and keep this stuff reasonable and not scream headlines of doom.
  • And next to that mirror is a megaphone to scream at everyone about it.
  • People get outraged, they don't agree with each other, they scream and yell.
British Dictionary definitions for scream

scream

/skriːm/
verb
1.
to utter or emit (a sharp piercing cry or similar sound or sounds), esp as of fear, pain, etc
2.
(intransitive) to laugh wildly
3.
(intransitive) to speak, shout, or behave in a wild or impassioned manner
4.
(transitive) to bring (oneself) into a specified state by screaming: she screamed herself hoarse
5.
(intransitive) to be extremely conspicuous: these orange curtains scream, you need more restful colours in a bedroom
noun
6.
a sharp piercing cry or sound, esp one denoting fear or pain
7.
(informal) a person or thing that causes great amusement
Word Origin
C13: from Germanic; compare Middle Dutch schreem, West Frisian skrieme to weep
Word Origin and History for scream
v.

late 12c., scræmen, of uncertain origin, similar to words in Scandinavian, Dutch, German, and Flemish (cf. Old Norse skræma "to terrify, scare," Swedish scrana "to scream," Dutch schreijen "cry aloud, shriek," Old High German scrian, German schreien "to cry"). Related: Screamed; screaming. Screaming meemies is World War I army slang, originally a soldiers' name for a type of German artillery shell that made a loud noise in flight (from French woman's name Mimi), extended to the battle fatigue caused by long exposure to enemy fire.

n.

mid-15c., from scream (v.).

And (as they say) lamentings heard i' th' Ayre; Strange Schreemes of Death. ["Macbeth," II.iii.61]
Shakespeare's spelling probably reflects "sk-" as spelled in words from Latin (e.g. school); he also has schreene for screen. Slang meaning "something that evokes a cry of laughter" is 1888; screamer in this sense is from 1831.