squeak.

1. To make a short, shrill sound or say something in a thin, high-pitched voice.

2. To pass, succeed, or win with only a very small margin to spare.

3. A brief, sharp, high-pitched cry or noise made by a voice, animal, or object.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• a hinge squeaks
• squeak in alarm
• squeak a reply

On the page

The hinge squeaked as she pushed the door open.

'Not yet,' he squeaked, barely able to speak.

Usage notes

Primary category: sensory / image-rich description. Lexical Type: Word. Forms: squeak; squeaks; squeaked; squeaked; squeaking. Noun singular squeak; plural squeaks. Commonness: common (editorial estimate; not a corpus frequency statistic). Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1; numbered fields keep each relevant meaning separate. Research distinction: Direct full extraction: make/utter short shrill cry or sound; inform/squeal cross-reference; pass/succeed/win narrowly. Noun shrill cry/sound or escape. Three retained sound/success senses; informing and escape noun overflow flagged. Individually checked for a distinct image, texture, sound, taste, smell, visual-perception or artistic function. Definitions/examples are original; sensory strength is not assumed to imply emotion. Writing functions: brief high-pitched sound, thin speech tone. Third-person singular: squeaks.