# scream

Pronunciation: say "SKREEM" US /skɹim/, UK /skɹiːm/

## Noun

1. A loud, forceful cry of intense emotion, especially horror, fear, excitement, or anger, made as a word or a long, high-pitched sound.
   - Simple: A loud, sharp cry that shows strong feelings like fear, excitement, or anger.
   - _A piercing scream carried across the fairground from the roller coaster._
   - _His scream of fury startled everyone in the office._
3. A loud cry made by many kinds of animals, especially in response to pain or fear.
   - Simple: A loud cry made by an animal, often because of pain or fear.
   - _A fox's scream in the dark can sound disturbingly human._
   - _The wounded hare gave a scream none of the hunters expected._
6. A form of singing in metal and screamo music using a loud, rough, distorted voice rather than the singer's normal tone.
   - Simple: A loud, rough, harsh way of singing used in metal and screamo music instead of the normal voice.
   - _His scream cut through the breakdown like a chainsaw._
   - _She layered a clean melody over a guttural scream in the chorus._
7. A person, event, or thing that is hugely funny or entertaining. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A person or thing that is really funny or fun to be around.
   - _The whole road trip turned out to be an absolute scream._
   - _Her impressions of the teachers were a scream._
8. An exclamation mark (!), in the slang of printers and typesetters.
   - Simple: The exclamation mark, the ! symbol used at the end of a sentence.
   - _Set the headline in bold and finish it with a scream._
   - _He marked up the proof, adding a scream after the warning line._

## Verb

2. To cry out with a shrill voice; to give a sudden, sharp, loud cry, as in fright or extreme pain.
   - Simple: To cry out loudly in a high, sharp voice, often from fear or pain.
   - _The children scream every time the roller coaster drops._
   - _She screamed for help as the current dragged her under._
4. To be a very clear sign of something; to obviously have the characteristics of. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To very clearly show a certain quality or feeling without stating it directly.
   - _Everything about the hotel screams old money._
   - _These bold colors and loose linens scream summer._
5. To move very quickly; to race.
   - Simple: To move very fast, the way a race car shoots by.
   - _Fighter jets scream across the valley during dawn training runs._
   - _The sports car screamed around the final bend and crossed the line._

## Origin

From Middle English scremen, probably a fusion of Middle Dutch scremen ("to yell, shout") and Old Norse skræma ("to terrify, scare"), with related forms in Swedish, Danish, Dutch and German. It is related to shriek.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/scream (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).