screeching
Translation
high-pitched, piercing
Examples
The car came to a screeching halt.
The car came to a screeching halt.
I heard a screeching sound from the engine.
I heard a screeching sound from the engine.
Grammar Patterns
((noun)) a screeching (noun) The car came to a screeching halt.
Similar Words
Synonyms: piercing, shrill, high-pitched; Antonyms: soft, quiet, gentle
Etymology
From the verb 'to screech', which is onomatopoeic, imitating a high-pitched cry.
Memory Tips
Imagine the sound of 'screech' as a mix between a 'scream' and a 'creak' - a very unpleasant, sharp noise.