Squeaky

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈskwiːki/

Definitions

1. Producing a sharp, high-pitched sound often indicating friction or wear
2. Emitting a shrill or piercing noise usually caused by dryness or tightness in moving parts
3. Giving out a sharp, high-frequency sound often heard when two surfaces rub together ; characterized by a thin, piercing vocal quality or sound

Etymology: "Squeaky" is a straightforward formation: the adjective "squeak" plus the suffix "-y," which turns a noun or verb into an adjective meaning "characterised by" or "having the quality of" the base. A squeak is the thin, high-pitched sound a hinge or a mouse makes, and "squeaky" describes whatever produces or resembles that sound. The base word, "squeak," is the older of the two in English. It traces back through Middle English and Old English to a Proto-Germanic root, and its ancestry includes the Proto-Indo-European root *-kos, which is the deepest layer of the family tree. The suffix itself has a long history of its own, descending through Old English "-ig" and Middle English "-y" before settling into the form used today.

Synonyms: noisy, high-pitched, grating

Antonyms: silent, smooth, quiet