squeak
Americannoun
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a short, sharp, shrill cry; a sharp, high-pitched sound.
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Informal. opportunity; chance.
their last squeak to correct the manuscript.
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an escape from defeat, danger, death, or destruction (usually qualified by narrow orclose ).
verb (used without object)
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to utter or emit a squeak or squeaky sound.
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Slang. to confess or turn informer; squeal.
verb (used with object)
verb phrase
noun
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a short shrill cry or high-pitched sound
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informal an escape (esp in the phrases narrow squeak , near squeak )
verb
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to make or cause to make a squeak
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(intr; usually foll by through or by) to pass with only a narrow margin
to squeak through an examination
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informal (intr) to confess information about oneself or another
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(tr) to utter with a squeak
Other Word Forms
- squeaker noun
- squeakily adverb
- squeakiness noun
- squeakingly adverb
- squeaky adjective
Etymology
Origin of squeak
1350–1400; Middle English squeken, perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Swedish skväka to croak
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They heard the repetitive squeak of Frankie rocking in his little chair.
From Literature
Neither stymied nor frustrated, the owl’s eyes grew a half size bigger and she let out a squeak of excitement.
From Literature
The monkey squeaked and sank his teeth in my finger.
From Literature
It squeaked and chirped and flew at me again.
From Literature
Then Vahid hears the telltale squeak of Peg Leg’s prosthetic leg.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
