1. Sharp piercing cry
   "A shriek of terror echoed through the haunted house";
   - scream, screaming, shrieking, screech, screeching
    
2. A high-pitched noise resembling a human cry
   "The shriek of car brakes pierced the quiet night";
   - screech, screeching, shrieking, scream, screaming

1. Utter a shrill cry
   "The child shrieked with delight";
   - shrill, pipe up, pipe

Derived forms: shrieks, shrieked, shrieking

Type of: call, cry, holler [informal], hollo [non-standard], noise, outcry, scream, shout, shout out, squall, vociferation, yell

Encyclopedia: Shriek