English Reference
Noun

squeak

n.
C1 Advanced US /ˈskwik/ UK /skwˈiːk/ squeak UK spelling squeaked, squeaks Military

n.a very high-pitched, sharp sound that is often annoying. You might hear this when a wheel is out of alignment or when a door is closing too fast.

n.a high-pitched, sharp, and often irritating sound. In a military or technical context, it can refer to a specific noise indicating a mechanical fault or a signal from a device.


SIMPLE

The squeak of the old chair woke me up.

CONTEXTUAL

The pilot heard a loud squeak from the landing gear just before the plane touched down.

COMPLEX

The technician identified a high-pitched squeak as the primary indicator of the bearing's impending failure, allowing for a timely maintenance intervention before a full breakdown occurred.

Sir Paul Smith, the doyen of British fashion, is flailing around in his office with two large rubber chickens and making them squeak them with gusto.

BBC News· 8 Sept 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated