Squealy

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Characterized by producing high-pitched or sharp sounds; exhibiting a tendency to emit shrill or piercing noises; having qualities associated with a loud, sharp, or squeaking sound
2. Describing a sound or voice that is unusually high in pitch and somewhat piercing; indicating a quality of emitting quick, sharp noises; relating to noises that resemble a prolonged squeak or shriek
3. Pertaining to a noise that is sharp, thin, and high-pitched in nature; referring to any sound that has a piercing or whiny character; marked by a tendency to create quick, shrill sounds akin to a squeak

Etymology: "Squealy" is about as plain as English etymology gets: it is the verb "squeal" with the adjective-forming suffix "-y" added to the end. "Squeal" describes a high, piercing cry, and adding "-y" turns that into a description of something prone to making such a sound, so a squealy hinge is one that keeps shrieking as it turns. The suffix does most of the work here. The "-y" ending has been attached to English nouns and verbs for centuries to mean "full of," "having the quality of," or "tending to," as in "stony," "milky," or "sleepy." Applying it to a verb like "squeal" follows the same pattern, producing a word whose meaning can be worked out from its parts alone.

Synonyms: shrill, squeaky

Antonyms: quiet, muted