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Added 9 October 2026

scream

/skɹiːm/ noun

In Latin: clāmō, vōciferor Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about scream at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Sharp piercing cry.
her screaming attracted the neighbors
A high-pitched noise resembling a human cry.
he ducked at the screechings of shells
A joke that seems extremely funny.

verb

Utter a sudden loud cry.
she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle
Utter or declare in a very loud voice.
You don't have to yell--I can hear you just fine
Make a loud, piercing sound.
Fighter planes are screaming through the skies

Origin

Inherited from Middle English scremen, borrowed from or cognate with 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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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