"Shriek" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
A loud, high-pitched scream, often of shock, fear, or pain.
Example: "She let out a shriek when she saw the spider."
Verbs
The little girl let out a loud shriek when she saw the giant spider.
The car's screech turned into a blood-curdling shriek as it veered off the road.
She shrieked in terror as the roller coaster crested the top of the hill.
Noun
The woman's shriek echoed through the abandoned asylum.
The shriek of the gate pierced the night air.
Interjections
"Aaah!" she shrieked in terror as the car came to a sudden stop.
"Shriek!" the comedian cried out as he pretended to be a trapped animal.
Sharp and clever in a way that is not necessarily good or admirable: a shrewder business opportunity.
Shrewsbury is a town in Shropshire, England. The name "Shrewsbury" comes from the river Severn, a major river in the area. It was originally known as Scrobbesburh or Scrobbesbyrig in Old English, meaning "place at the mouth of the Severn River".<br><br>In a figurative sense, a Shrewsbury is also defined as a type of clock face with Roman numerals where the top hour hand (hour numeral I) is square-shaped.<br><br>A Shrewsbury can also be used to describe someone or something from the town of Shrewsbury or having a connection to it.<br><br>The term "Shrewsbury" is also associated with a Hardy plant, Shrewsbury, also known as Polygonum lapathifolium, is a perennial herb with white flowers.
Shrieks refer to loud, high-pitched cries or screams, often used to express shock, fear, or agony. It can also describe the sharp, piercing sound itself.
The word "shrieve" is a rather uncommon and archaic term. In Old English, it meant "to atone" or "to pardon." It is derived from the Old English word "sceerian," which is related to the verb "sceor," meaning "to make amends" or "to reconcile."<br><br>In modern usage, the word "shrieve" can also refer to a priest who absolves or pardons sins, especially in a sacramental context. The term is often associated with the Church of England and other Christian traditions that use the Book of Common Prayer.<br><br>In summary, the word "shrieve" essentially means to forgive, pardon, or reconcile someone or something for past wrongdoing or sin.
The word "shrift" is a noun which refers to a written record or acknowledgment of a prisoner's sins or wrongdoings, especially one that is obtained as a prerequisite to receiving absolution or forgiveness. It is a formal declaration of guilt and contrition, often made in preparation for a sacrament like Confession in the Catholic Church.
A bird of prey with a distinctive call that captures insects and small animals by catching them with its hooked beak. It is often associated with a sinister or intimidating presence. The word can also be used metaphorically to describe someone or something that catches or criticizes people unexpectedly or severely.
A shrike is a type of small to medium-sized passerine bird that belongs to the family Laniidae. There are about 30 different species of shrikes that can be found in various parts of the world. Shrikes are known for their distinctive hunting behavior, in which they impale their prey, such as insects, small mammals, and birds, on thorns or barbed wire to eat later.<br><br>Shrikes are typically characterized by their distinctive appearance, which includes a distinctive crest or forehead, and a loud, melodic song. They are generally found in open areas, such as fields and woodlands, and are known for their aggressive behavior, particularly in defending their territory.<br><br>It's worth noting that the word "shrike" can also be used in certain idiomatic expressions, such as "shrike one's gorge," which means to gorge oneself to excess, or "to shrike out off," which means to hang or file away like a nail shrike would impale its prey.