scream
English
/skɹiːm/, /skɹim/
noun
Definitions
- 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.
- (music) 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.
- (informal)
- (printers' slang) exclamation mark
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English scremen derived from Middle Dutch scremen (yell, shout) derived from Old Norse skræma (scare, terrify).
Origin
Old Norse
skræma
Gloss
scare, terrify
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- midscream English
- outscream English
- rescream English
- screamathon English
- screamer English
- screamest English
- screameth English
- screamfest English
- screamlike English
- screamy English
- Geschrei German
- Geschreie German
- niederschreien German
- schreien German
- beschreien Dutch, Flemish
- schreien Dutch, Flemish
- fågelskrämma Swedish
- skrämma Swedish
- skräna Swedish
- skräntärna Swedish
- scremen Middle English
- skræma Old Norse
- scremen Middle Dutch
- schrien Middle High German