shrill´ness — shrill «shrihl», adjective, verb, noun, adverb. –adj. 1. having a high pitch; high and sharp in sound; piercing: »a shrill cry or voice. Crickets, locusts, and katydids make shrill noises. SYNONYM(S): strident. 2. a) full of shrill sounds: »a gym … Useful english dictionary
Shrill — Shrill, a. [Compar. {Shriller}; superl. {Shrillest}.] [OE. shril, schril; akin to LG. schrell, G. schrill. See {Shrill},v. i.] Acute; sharp; piercing; having or emitting a sharp, piercing tone or sound; said of a sound, or of that which produces… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Shrill — Shrill, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Shrilled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Shrilling}.] [OE. schrillen, akin to G. schrillen; cf. AS. scralletan to resound loudly, Icel. skr[ o]lta to jolt, Sw. skr[ a]lla to shrill, Norw. skryla, skr?la. Cf. {Skirl}.] To utter an… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Sharp — Sharp, a. [Compar. {Sharper}; superl. {Sharpest}.] [OE. sharp, scharp, scarp, AS. scearp; akin to OS. skarp, LG. scharp, D. scherp, G. scharf, Dan. & Sw. skarp, Icel. skarpr. Cf. {Escarp}, {Scrape}, {Scorpion}.] 1. Having a very thin edge or fine … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Sharp practice — Sharp Sharp, a. [Compar. {Sharper}; superl. {Sharpest}.] [OE. sharp, scharp, scarp, AS. scearp; akin to OS. skarp, LG. scharp, D. scherp, G. scharf, Dan. & Sw. skarp, Icel. skarpr. Cf. {Escarp}, {Scrape}, {Scorpion}.] 1. Having a very thin edge… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
shrill — [shril] adj. [ME shrille, akin to LowG schrell, Ger schrill: echoic, prob. akin to SHRIEK] 1. having or producing a high, thin, piercing tone; high pitched 2. characterized or accompanied by shrill sounds 3. unrestrained and irritatingly… … English World dictionary
sharp — [shärp] adj. [ME < OE scearp, akin to Ger scharf, ON skarpr < IE * (s)kerb(h) < base * (s)ker , to cut > SHEAR, HARVEST, L caro, flesh] 1. suitable for use in cutting or piercing; having a very thin edge or fine point; keen 2. having… … English World dictionary
shrill — [adj] high pitched, harsh in sound acute, argute, blaring, blatant, cacophonous, clanging, clangorous, deafening, discordant, ear piercing, earsplitting, high, metallic, noisy, penetrating, piercing, piping, raucous, screeching, sharp, strident,… … New thesaurus
shrill — I. verb Etymology: Middle English; probably akin to Old English scrallettan to resound loudly more at skirl Date: 13th century transitive verb scream intransitive verb to utter or emit an acute piercing sound II. adjective Date: 14th century … New Collegiate Dictionary
sharp — sharply, adv. sharpness, n. /shahrp/, adj., sharper, sharpest, v., adv., n. adj. 1. having a thin cutting edge or a fine point; well adapted for cutting or piercing: a sharp knife. 2. terminating in an edge or point; not blunt or rounded: The… … Universalium
