scream

Meanings

Noun

• A loud, emphatic, exclamation of extreme emotion, especially horror, fear, excitement, or anger; it may comprise a word or a sustained, high-pitched vowel sound.
• A loud vocalisation of many animals, especially in response to pain or fear.
• A form of singing associated with the metal and screamo styles of music. It is a loud, rough, distorted version of the voice; rather than the normal voice of the singer.
• exclamation mark

Verb

• To cry out with a shrill voice; to utter a sudden, shout outcry, or shrill, loud cry, as in fright or extreme pain; to screech, to shriek.

Origin

• From Middle English scremen, scræmen, probably from a fusion of Middle Dutch scremen ("to yell; shout") and Old Norse skræma ("to terrify; scare"); compare Dutch schremen ("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.